The leading specialist wetland consultancy
Welney Wigeon Habitat Creation
Services provided
Client
Environment Agency
Location
Norfolk, UK
Year
2006-2009
WWT Consulting carried out a feasibility study, detailed design and site supervision of the construction of 38 hectares of new wet grassland designed specifically for Eurasian Wigeon.
Lady Fen Farm, Welney, was purchased by the Environment Agency in 2006 to create compensatory habitat after essential flood defence work had been carried out on the Middle Level Barrier Bank of the Ouse Washes.
Previously, the site was separated hydrologically from surrounding land by a plastic membrane. This allowed the constructed system of ditches, channels and scrapes to be flooded without impacting on the farms adjacent to the site. The area was seeded with native grasses and now provides suitable habitat for wintering wildfowl and breeding waders in the spring.