Marton Mere Volunteers Update
This update covers the period from late August through to the end of October. Almost all of the habitat management works carried out at the Mere are undertaken by a Volunteer Group who attend the site on Tuesdays, all year round. More than 50% of the active volunteers are also members of Fylde Bird Club (FBC). Should any Fylde Bird Club Members wish to join the Volunteer group / Friends of Marton Mere then please get in touch via email to either Alec Lynott using the email address alec.lynott@blackpool.gov.uk You can also email the Volunteers directly using the email address friendsofmartonmere@gmail.com
Habitat Management
With the breeding season almost over, work moves from maintaining paths and access routes to actively managing the reserve in terms of habitat. As mentioned in previous reports, this management hasn’t really taken place since late 2019 and three years of unchecked growth will take some managing; that said, all of the volunteers are very much looking forward to it and can’t wait to see the difference and the benefits this work will make come Spring/Summer 2023. The time consuming task of litter picking continues simultaneously with habitat management as does work on dead hedges and bramble barriers to deter those dogs not on leads. Fencing projects also continue but only if they are on the reserve.
Significant work has now been undertaken on habitat management and this work has included the restoration/recovery of two ponds in the North East corner and these have filled nicely in the recent rains. Barriers and fences from locally harvested willow have been erected to prevent them becoming dog play areas and this seems to be working well – it also looks amazing and will be a great place to observe Dragonflies and Damselflies in 2023.
In total, more than 1500m2 of rank grass and bramble has now been removed, all along the northern side of the Mere. The scrub beyond this is now accessible and work will commence in that area in the coming weeks and months. This bramble and brash has been used to create windrow type barriers along the northern edge to prevent access. This work requires the use of ‘industrial’ battery powered strimmer’s and brush cutters and the cuttings are then raked and removed by hand to form barriers and dead-hedges. The Volunteer Group only have access to two of these units and three batteries. This effectively allows for three half days of strimming per session. The Volunteer Group are currently trying to raise funds to purchase an additional strimmer with additional batteries to increase capacity
Wild Flower Areas and Meadow
This area has its annual flora and fauna survey undertaken during the period and over the course of the year it looked great and supported lots of plants and wildlife. Full details of the survey can be seen in the ebook the volunteers have published and that is available to view from the FBC Site using this link https://issuu.com/friendsofmartonmere/docs/fomm-archive-20152022_wildflower_meadow_project
Access Gates /Hides
Substantial new gates have been installed at the North West and South West entrances to the Mere. Their design and ease of use is not ideal but we are where we are. The gate preventing access to the front of the FBC hide has been pulled off the wall and this has been reported to the Club. It needs to be re-affixed and a method of locking provided. Access has been gained to the hide via the front windows and damage to the inside of the hide is evident. A small work party may be required to repair the damage and it may be worth considering reducing the size of the openings to prevent future access in this manner. There is currently a discussion between the Council and Haven regarding doors and locks to all hides and a regular dawn and dusk patrol around the entire Reserve.
The Mere remains a key habitat for all manner of flora and fauna and FBC members have been key to its protection and management in recent decades. . It is only with the efforts of the Volunteer Group, Friends of Marton Mere Group and FBC that it remains in good condition and the account and images below are typical of the type of things you could be involved with should you choose to join the Volunteer Group.
For more information and photos, please follow this link to the Marton Mere Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/martonmerereserve
Joe Makepeace 29th October 2022