Description
Stevenage Brook Marsh is managed by the Environment Agency. Stevenage Brook is a chalk stream, an internationally rare and important habitat. The marsh is particularly important as it forms part of a wildlife corridor from Knebworth Park to Stevenage Golf Centre.
Recommendations:
- In order to retain the open nature of the brook, regular scrub clearance along its banks is advised. Volunteers help control the scrub.
- Invasive species, such as Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Canadian Goldenrod, are present and there are volunteers that help control these species. A long-term control programme should be developed.
- To increase habitat diversity and prevent inevitable succession to woodland, rotational cutting of the tall herb areas should be introduced. Aim to cut and clear 20% of the grassland/tall herb areas onsite annually on a rotational basis. Ultimately the best option for this site would be to introduce low level grazing. This should be investigated.
- The arboretum at the west end should be thinned by 50% to create a more diverse habitat structure and encourage the ground flora to develop.
- Creating more complexity by digging ponds and scrapes within the grassland areas would add more complexity and diversity of habitat.
- At present the brook appears artificially straight. Consideration should be given to creating meanders or backwaters in the stream to simulate more natural conditions and complexity.