While walking around the pond you may have seen a lot of work going on in Fugelmere marsh and lots of logs in the main car park. The marsh area had become encroached by trees and scrub, these were cut down, and the timber is going to be sold locally as firewood.If left unmanaged the habitat is lost due to the encroachment of trees and scrub from the surrounding woodland, these create shade as well as drawing up the water from the wetland. The scrub and trees were cut down and removed and then the ground mulched and scraped.
Livestock are going to be grazing Fugelmere marsh as of next year. Now the encroaching trees and scrub have been cleared, we are installing a new grazing enclosure this week which will include Fugelmere marsh, Fugelmere wood and Alder wood. Grazing maintains a mosaic of vegetation this is important to provide a wide range of habitats for wetland species. 
The reedbeds at fleet pond are designated as a priority habitat in the UK and are home to important plants and animals. Bird species such as the reed warbler and reed buntings are known to nest in the reedbeds every year in good numbers. However over the years if left unmanaged the habitat is lost due to the encroachment of trees and scrub from the surrounding woodland, these create shade as well as drawing up the water from the wetland. Reedbeds are maintained by reed cutting, the reed is cut to encourage the new growth and to reduce the accumulation of old dying reed within the reedbed.
