In February 2025, work started to restore important habitat space for breeding wetland birds at Decoy Marsh and Old Eaa Marsh at Potteric Carr.

Known together as Balby Carr, these two areas of wetland formed in the 1960s and 1970s through mining subsidence and were initially largely open water. However, over time these spaces were taken over by reed ben, fen and semi-mature willow carr – and although some work was done in the late 1990s to try and stop the spread of the reedbeds, these areas have since been completely taken over.

Areas of open water are vital habitat spaces for breeding and wintering birds like teal, mallards, shovelers, gadwall and coots, and this part of the reserve had become completely unsuitable for these species – with just one small, eroded island available for them to find safe refuge. Balby Carr is also an important part of the reserve because it is close to the visitor centre, so easily accessible for most people to view and enjoy the very best of the reserve and its wildlife.

The work to improve Balby Carr took place throughout February, and included removing reed roots and accumulated silt that had settled over the last 50 years.

Reeds have been removed from in front of both hides, improving the views across the marshes for visitors, although some areas of reed and willow have been left to provide edge habitat and maintain the variety of cover and plant types that make up a healthy wetland. We have also created three new islands for the wetland birds to nest on, and re-landscaped the existing island to make it more suitable for nesting birds.

At present, it is too early to see any immediate signs of improvement in our breeding and wintering wildfowl on site – and we are aware that the area does look messy now! Unfortunately this is an unavoidable effect of preventing reedbeds from taking over entirely, particularly given the absence of large roving herds of grazers that would once have disrupted and moved through the area.

Potteric Carr is a large, complex site of mixed habitats, with many different wetland areas requiring hugely varied work and attention to keep them as effective habitats for wildlife. We are immensely proud of our ongoing work on site – so when you next visit Potteric Carr, why not take the yellow route from the visitor centre and see what new wildlife flourishes on Balby Carr this spring and summer?