The role of constructed wetlands in the

agricultural landscape

a collaborative project between

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) and

the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Philippa Mansfield - Catchment Sensitive Farming

Catherine McIlwraith & Sally Mackenzie - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Water Framework Directive objective

Good Ecological Status of water bodies

Agriculture significant source of

diffuse water pollution

– sediment, nitrates, microbes,

phosphates, pesticides and impact on

aquatic habitats

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) provides training

and grants to farmers to tackle diffuse water pollution

Sediment trap

Soil & water management

Yard workswww.naturalengland.org.uk/csf

CSF farm case studies - River Eye catchment

Simple CSF grant aided silt

trap to collect drainage from

track and local drain

In-stream wooden boards & coya

matting on banks to trap silt and

reduce sedimentation of river

CSF Officer, Des Kay with Environmental Stewardship and Environment Agency

CSF collaboration with WWT

• WWT experienced in building, maintaining and monitoring

different constructed wetlands for a range of benefits

• Potential for constructed wetlands use as part of CSF

approach to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture

• Plus flood control, biodiversity & amenity benefits

• Funding options - CSF, EA & Environmental Stewardship

• Issues – cost, grants, land loss, EA permits, re-mobilisation

of phosphate, pollutant strength, design options

• Farmers/advisers need to understand where/how to use

constructed wetlands & how to manage them

Training for farm advisers – CSF, NE, EA

Guidance on use of constructed wetlands

Video for use in farmer/adviser training

Guidance document – constructed farm wetlands

• Aimed at farm advisers, primarily Catchment Sensitive Farming

Officers, Natural England and Environment Advisers.

• Provides information and examples on the use of constructed

wetlands and sustainable drainage systems on farms and how

these features can be designed to enhance biodiversity.

• Different types of constructed wetlands and sustainable

drainage systems are described, with guidance on their

suitability for different farm situations and pollution issues,

location, design, costs, permits required and case studies.

• Now available to Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural

England and Environment Agency advisers

Wetland options covered by guidance

• Swales, in-ditch wetlands,

sediment ponds, constructed

wetlands (diffuse effluent) &

constructed wetlands (point

source effluent)

• Uses a star rating system to

explain complexity of options

e.g. 2 stars for basic sediment

ponds up to 5 stars for

wetlands treating high

strength effluent

Training day

• January 2013, WWT Slimbridge

• Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers, Environment Agency and

Higher Level Stewardship advisers from Natural England attended.

• Day consisted of:

o Presentation on wetland

options on farms along

with case studies

o Screening of the WWT-

made video on

constructed farm

wetlands

o Visit around the wetland

treatment systems at

Slimbridge

Video

• Produced by WWT Media

team

• Created to complement the

guidance document and

show the creation of a farm

constructed wetland.

• CSF to use video for farmer

and adviser training

Further outcomes of the collaboration

• WWT working with Natural England to develop options for

constructed wetlands & Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) for

the RDPE funded New Environmental Land Management Scheme

• CSF farm demonstration event on sediment ponds

• Feasibility studies on use of reed beds on dairy farms

• Water Framework Directive project on use of constructed wetlands to

protect a SSSI with CSF advice on soil management to reduce erosion

• Environment Agency reviewing their position on use of constructed

wetlands for diffuse water pollution control

• Potential for improving water quality using constructed wetlands