| DETAILS OF THE SECOND SET OF PLANS |
| REEDBEDS |
| BITTERN |
Maps and information on recording some of Suffolk's BAP species are available on the Suffolk Biological Records Centre website: Click here to go to main SBRC site
The first set of Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plans (comprising 8 Habitats and 27 Species) was published in June 1998, and examples selected from these have been reproduced in earlier Newsletters. Action Plans for Reedbeds and Bittern, taken from the first set and reproduced here, continue this ongoing series. Habitat Action Plans
The publication of the second set of Suffolk Local Biodiversity Action Plans in June of this year represents a significant step in the production of plans for the majority of the national priority habitats and species that occur in the county. It now remains to publish plans for coastal habitats and a number of the relevant remaining species. All of the national priority mammal, butterfly, moth and plant species occurring in Suffolk now have action plans along with a number of invertebrates and lower plants. The next step is to consider if there are any further plans that warrant a full Suffolk plan or whether the remaining species are best covered by existing habitat plans.
In addition to the national priority habitats and species, the second set of plans also includes habitats and species that are special to Suffolk. These have been termed "Suffolk Character Plans". They include an urban habitat plan and, amongst the species, barn owl, adder and native black poplar for which Suffolk is one of the strongholds. It is hoped in the near future to produce further Suffolk Character Plans for butterflies and moths in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation, and for the ant-lion, Euroleon nostras, an important invertebrate found on the Suffolk coast.
Details of selected examples from the second set of plans (listed below) will be included in future issues of the Newsletter.
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Wet woodlands |
Lowland wood pastures and parkland |
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Lowland hay meadows |
Lowland dry acid grassland |
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Eutrophic open water (includes ponds) |
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Suffolk character habitats
Urban
Species Action Plans
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Barbastelle bat |
Barbastella barbastellus |
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Lesser Horseshoe bat |
Rhinolophus hipposideros |
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Nightjar |
Caprimulgus europaeus |
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Linnet |
Carduelis cannabina |
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Woodlark |
Lullula arborea |
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Reed Bunting |
Emberiza scheniclus |
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Corn Bunting |
Miliaria calandra |
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Spotted Flycatcher |
Muscicapa striata |
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Tree Sparrow |
Passer montanus |
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Bullfinch |
Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
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Turtle Dove |
Streptopelia turtur |
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Tassel Stonewort |
Tolypella intricata |
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Silver-studded Blue |
Plebejus argus |
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Oak polypore |
Buglossoporus pulvinus |
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Tower Mustard |
Arabis glabra |
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Cornflower |
Centaurea cyanus |
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Red-tipped Cudweed |
Filago lutescens |
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Pillwort |
Pilularia globulifera |
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Shepherd’s-needle |
Scandix pecten-veneris |
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Small-flowered Catch fly |
Silene gallica |
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Great Water-parsnip |
Sium latifolia |
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Spreading Hedge-parsley |
Torilis arvensis |
Suffolk character species
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Native Black Poplar |
Populus nigra ssp. Betulifolia |
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Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
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Adder |
Vipera alba |
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Water Shrew |
Neomys fodiens |
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Unspotted Lungwort |
Pulmonaria obscura |
Reedbeds are a type of fen community dominated by reeds that primarily occur in the coastal regions of Suffolk. They provide breeding habitats for many rare, migratory birds and invertebrates and important wintering habitats for birds from elsewhere in the UK. East Anglia contains the majority of the reedbeds that remain in the UK.
1 Definition
Reedbeds are 
characterised by a dominance of Reeds Phragmites australis and occur in a wide range of permanently and periodically waterlogged habitats. Stands usually occur around lakes and ponds, in estuaries and on saltmarsh, and along dykes and canals. Other communities not dominated by reed are included in the fen action plan.
2 Current status
2.1 Local
Reedbeds are a rare habitat. The RSPB Reedbed Inventory suggests over 840 ha in Suffolk -almost 15% of the UK resource. However, the definition of reedbed used for this inventory was wider than that proposed here. There are five sites over 20ha, totalling 430ha (51% of the Suffolk total) (Benacre Broad, Easton Broad, Minsmere, Shottisham & Ramsholt and Walberswick).
Some 56 species of conservation concern (which meet the criteria for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan) in Suffolk depend fully or partly on reedbeds and associated fens. However, further research is necessary to fully identify the status of many species. In particular, the following are likely to provide the main focus: birds (Bittern, Bearded tit, Marsh harrier, Savi's warbler), moths and mammals.
2.2 Natural areas
Suffolk Coast Maritime, Suffolk Coast and Heaths, The Fens, The Broads, East Anglian Plain, Breckland.
3 Current factors affecting the habitat in Suffolk
4 Current action
Of the 12 largest sites all but two are within SSSls and most are under sympathetic management (eg, EN, RSPB reserves).
5 Action plan objectives and targets
1 Maintain existing overall area and quality as a minimum.
2 Enhance by managing for key species where requirements are known.
3 Audit existing reedbed resource, particularly for priority species.
4 Research habitat requirements for priority species.
5 Recreate, in advance of losses through coastal erosion, 200 hectares to maintain the current area. This will be as near as possible to existing sites on areas of low current nature conservation interest.
6 Recreate a further 600 hectares of new reedbed safe from future threat of sea level rise within Norfolk and Suffolk. This will be on areas of low current nature conservation interest.
The Bittern is confined 
almost entirely to wetlands dominated by reeds, where it feeds on fish, amphibians and other small water animals. The bird re-colonised the UK after extinction last century but has declined steadily in the last 30 years due to degradation of its habitat through lack of appropriate management as well as eutrophication.
1 Current status
1.1 National
Declining, localised and rare in the UK, confined almost entirely to lowland marshes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lancashire. The UK population has declined to about 11 booming males in 1997 from a peak of c.80 in 1954. Numbers are boosted in winter by continental immigrants. It is a red list species having declined by over 50% in the last 25 years.
1.2 Local
The Bittern breeds only in two reedbeds on the Suffolk coast. Only four booming males were heard in 1997. It is more widespread in winter when even small reedbeds may be used.
1.3 Natural Areas
Suffolk Coast and Heaths
1.4 Protection
The Bittern is listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Berne Convention. It is protected in the UK under Schedule 1 of the WCA 1981.
2 Current factors causing loss or decline
Loss of suitable breeding areas in fens and reed beds through natural succession and lack of appropriate management (particularly cutting and water management).
3 Current action
All remaining Bitterns breed on SSSIs which are managed as nature reserves.
4 Action plan objectives and targets
1 Arrest the decline of the Bittern, maintaining at least four booming birds over the present range and start to increase the population and range before the year 2000.
2 Increase the population to about 15 booming males by 2010 by ensuring appropriate management of the existing large reedbeds where Bittern once occurred.
3 Initiate work to secure the long-term future of Bitterns in Suffolk by providing suitable habitat for a population of not less than 25 booming males by 2020.