Wild Wading Birds and Wet Grassland Conservation

Wet grasslands are among the most important and rapidly declining habitats for breeding wading birds in the UK, supporting lapwing, snipe, redshank, and curlew.

Key Facts

Wet grassland area in the UK has declined by over 70% since the 1940s due to agricultural drainage
Lapwing, snipe, redshank, and curlew all depend on high water tables and wet soil for feeding and nesting
RSPB and Wildlife Trust reserves manage water levels through sluices to maintain wet conditions year-round
Breeding success on wet grassland reserves is significantly higher than on adjacent intensively managed land
Wet grasslands also support exceptional invertebrate diversity that forms the food base for wader chicks

Welfare Considerations

The precipitous decline of wet grassland has caused widespread welfare impacts on breeding wading birds at a population level. Insufficient wet areas for feeding and roosting means birds must travel further, expending more energy. Drainage of nesting habitat causes nest failure through desiccation of soil that chicks depend on for soft invertebrate food. Conservation management of water levels on reserves directly addresses these welfare bottlenecks. The creation and restoration of wet grassland through agri-environment payments represents one of the highest-value single conservation investments available for multiple declining species simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support Wildlife Trust and RSPB reserve management that maintains wet grassland for breeding waders
Advocate for agri-environment schemes that reward wet grassland creation and water table restoration
Participate in wader monitoring surveys on wet grasslands during breeding season
Reduce meat consumption or choose products from farms maintaining wet grassland under stewardship