Description • Monitoring • Effectiveness of the scheme • Further information

Aberlady Local Nature Reserve, East Lothian

Description

Aberlady Bay was designated Britain’s first nature reserve in 1952. In recent years numbers of breeding Lapwings and Redshanks at the reserve have shown a steady decline. A report by East Lothian council presented to the Reserve Advisory Group on the status of breeding birds, attributed these declines to a reduction in suitable nesting habitat, predation of nests, particularly by crows, and human disturbance. A follow up paper on management of the saltmarsh to the Advisory Group suggested various management recommendations including the establishment of a small trial plot to assess the impact of grazing on breeding redshanks and lapwings.

Following advice from Scottish Natural Heritage it was decided that the trial area should consist of two 1 hectare plots in the northern part of the saltmarsh/freshwater marsh transition area. Both plots were enclosed using 700m of 90cm high, 10 cm mesh electric fencing, powered by a 12V battery unit, charged with a solar panel.

The experiment was due to commence in 2001 but following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease the trial was delayed until the following year. Following discussions with a local farmer nine Suffolk-cross sheep were introduced to one of the plots on 16 th October 2002 (see picture below). The sheep were then moved into the second plot on December 17th where they remained until 5th February 2003. It was originally hoped that Cattle could be used on one of the plots, but it was felt that the exposure of the site would be detrimental to their health and the fencing used would not be robust enough to contain them.

Sheep grazing on trial plot on Aberlady Nature reserve, 2003

Monitoring

Due to the delayed start to the trial, two seasons of pre-scheme monitoring were gathered before the sheep were introduced to the plots. At each plot vegetation height and species coverage was measured at 100 random sampling points whilst breeding bird numbers were recorded as part of the ongoing census on the reserve.

Effectiveness of the scheme

The results of the 2003 bird census on the reserve show that the grazing experiment appears to have been successful. Prior to the trials, annual bird counts recorded 1-2 breeding pairs of Lapwing and Redshank with numbers increasing to 6-7, post grazing. The increase in breeding adults on both sites also led to an increase in fledged young.

Unfortunately the experiment was not continued the following season due to problems sourcing suitable grazing stock so long term effects cannot be assessed. However East Lothian council are planning to repeat grazing later in 2005 providing suitable stock can be sourced.

Recommendations following the first trial experiment included:

• introduction of cattle to a more-sheltered trial plot, with more robust fencing; and
• areas important for nesting Lapwings/Redshanks should be protected by electric fencing.

Further information

Thomson, I. (2003). An Assessment of the Saltmarsh Grazing Trial at Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve. Unpublished report. East Lothian Council

Ian Thomson (Reserve Warden, Aberlady Bay LNR)
Landscape & Countryside Management
Dept. of Education & Community Services
East Lothian Council
Council Buildings
Haddington
East Lothian