27. Milton Wetland Enhancement Project 

This project aims to restore a mosaic of wetland habitats that are poorly represented at Milton Country Park, enhancing the site for wildlife and the public. Improvements to infrastructure will offer the public the opportunity to enjoy a new wild space.

In common with many other flooded pits which originated as former gravel workings, the extensive complex of open waters at Milton Country Park are underrepresented by marginal habitat that is in good condition, limiting the diversity of wildlife at the site. This project will deliver enhancements to a currently under-utilised and overgrown area of marginal habitat in the park, for the benefit of both people and wildlife associated with open waters and their margins.  

Specifically, the project will:

1. Restore targeted areas of late successional reedbed within the Wetlands Pit to reintroduce open water and early successional marginal vegetation: 
   • Re-establish aerobic, open water across around 25% of the existing, overmature reedbed. The open water will be comprised of two or three small meres and a network of channels to maximise the open water/reed edge.  
   • Across an additional 25% of existing overmature reedbed, leaf litter and sediment will be removed to a new bed level set at 20cm below the summer water level. Lowering the bed level to this depth will encourage establishment of early successional reedbed. 
   • To maintain a full range of reedbed successional stages, the remaining 50% of the reedbed will receive no intervention apart from targeted scrub clearance. Future reedbed management on a staggered, long rotation will maintain a legacy of diverse reedbed structure and successional stage. 

2. Create approximately 200m of new footpaths and boardwalks. 

3. Use targeted coppicing, pollarding and scrub removal at strategic locations along the western and southern boundaries of the pit to: 
   • Increase sunlight on parts of the wetland that are increasingly shaded 
   • Reduce input of tree/shrub leaf litter into the wetland 
   • Create viewpoints for visitors, from which sightlines will extend across new meres and along open water channels.