Nature Reserve’s Efforts Bolster Bittern Species Recovery

A nature reserve is commemorating its 30th year and its achievement in re-establishing a rare avian species. Ham Wall, situated near Glastonbury in Somerset, was acquired by the RSPB in 1994 and transformed from a former peat extraction area into a wildlife sanctuary. This location is recognized for its contribution to the resurgence of the bittern, a bird that faced near extinction in the 1990s. Tony Whitehead of the RSPB stated: “It’s probably one of the best places in the UK to see a bittern now. I don’t think they would have turned up if we hadn’t done the work.” In 1997, an estimated 11 mating male bitterns existed; currently, the RSPB reports that this figure has doubled at the Ham Wall site exclusively, with 50 in Somerset and a total of 239 across the UK. Mr. Whitehead explained that the land was converted into a bittern habitat through the cultivation of reed beds. He remarked: “Water is not such a problem, you can get water in these places. Then you have to get reeds.” He further noted: “In the early days we had the local community growing the reeds for us in the gardens and greenhouses.” He recounted that after the reed beds had matured, birds began to emerge in 2005. Mr. Whitehead further commented: “A few years after that, we had the first breeding of the birds, which was a real celebration.” He concluded: “You just don’t know what’s going to turn up next.” Bob Buck, a volunteer at the location for 25 years, stated: “If we hadn’t planted the reeds, done what we have, this wouldn’t have happened. “It was ten years before I even saw a bittern, I thought they were like griffins, mythical beasts.” He added: “In every sense this reserve is a success, it’s a success because we’ve done what we set out to do.” For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.