Grass Meadow
Managing an area of lawn as a river meadow will enhance the value of your garden for wildlife
providing a healthy habitat for thriving populations of amphibians and insects. Allow the grass
to grow cutting only once in early spring and again in autumn. With more careful
management, wild flowers can be established (refer to leaflet No.2)
Kingfishers
Attract one of Britains most beautiful birds by erecting a perch and witness its stunning flight,
skimming over the water in a flash of blue and white light
Nesting Birds
You can attract a myriad of bird life including reed buntings, reed warblers, sedge warblers,
moorhens and coots who will happily nest in all areas of reeds and tall grasses
Invertebrates
These play an essential part in the food chain acting as a tasty food source for birds and
mammals such as the bat and sedge warbler
Amphibians
Frogs toads and newts live on land but must return to water to breed. A habitat log pile
provides a convenient winter hide away and feeding area; and a pond provides a perfect
breeding location
Pond
A pond makes a real difference to your river wildlife. It provides and off stream refuge for a
whole host of creatures a haven for amphibian life to live and breed and for thirty visitors to
stop and drink
Daubenton's Bat
Rivers provide an ideal habitat for this water bat especially if there are trees near by. They feed
on aquatic insects so you may be lucky enough to see them hunting at dusk swooping on the
river
Dragonflies
With their vibrant colours and graceful darting flight patterns, dragonflies make a splendid
addition to the atmosphere of your river. Reeds and other river plants offer both protection
and a source of prey and can attract rare species such as the rare chaser
Mowed lawn
Mowing your lawn right up to the waters edge inhibits succession of many important species -
both plant and animal - crucial to the life cycle of your river. Areas along the riverbank in
particular should be left alone so that nature can take its course
Fringe Vegetation
A wildlife fringe around your riverbank will provide homes for coots, moorhens, water voles
and otters. Fringe vegetation should be allowed to develop naturally and for as long as
possible, and shouldn't have to be cut back more than once every one to two years. Planting
native species such as yellow iris should add colour to the scene
Water Voles
These prefer slow flowing watercourses with steep banks to use for their burrows, with plenty of dense grassy vegetation along the bank to provide cover and food. Without year round cover, water voles are left vulnerable to predation
Otters
Otters are now increasing in number throughout Dorset and may be swimming along your
section of the river. Logs offer ideal marking sites and fringe vegetation offers an excellent
foraging habitat
Himalayan Balsam
This should be controlled by regular weeding as this invasive species can smother the natural river bank flora