World Wetlands Day at Mires Beck
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on the 2nd February, to raise public awareness of the high importance of wetlands as a freshwater source and environmental habitats. It's a day to encourage actions to restore and preserve our wetlands.
This day is also to remember the signing of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Iranian City of Ramsar (1971).
As the wetlands are our freshwater source, we are using more than nature can restore. By doing this, we are ruining the ecosystem because all life depends on water, and we therefore need those water sources (i.e. wetlands).
To conserve our wetlands, we need to reduce pollution by buying eco-friendly and sustainable products, and don't litter. You can also turn off the tap when you're not using it, check your home for leaks, and water your plants early in the morning during the summer.
At Mires Beck Nursery, we provide North Cave Wetlands with Phragmites australis (Common Reed). North Cave Wetlands is a 40 hectare site that has a structure of 4 parts, where manager Tony Martin tells the story of how an old quarry can turn into a wetland. It meant a serious amount of work for him, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust staff, and their volunteers.
Tony, the staff and the volunteers have all been brushcutting grasses and brambles to create different habitats, lopping sticking-out hedges and trees for the health and safety of the public, and creating diverse habitats for wetland birds.
In general, we supply around 26 native Yorkshire wetland/marginal species. They all love a damp, but not under water, habitat, so the edges of ponds are very popular. Prime locations include bogs, fens, marshes, wet meadows, carrs, streams, river banks and canal banks.
There are many species that we provide to wetlands with many species. Our popular ones are:
Marsh Marigold
Purple Loosestrife
Sneezewort
Meadowsweet
Invertebrates use them as breeding grounds; amphibeans use them for laying spawn; birds nest in them; and insects, butterflies and moths use them for pollen.
Please donate to our Just Giving website so we can keep producing these species to help Yorkshire wetlands, their habitats and their water sources.
All projects require fundraising and we are always looking for new sponsors and volunteers to help us realise the future aspirations to maintain the charity and help it to thrive. If you would like to help please contact us.