Rivers and associated wetlands contain habitats that support a rich variety of plants, mammals and invertebrates as well as often defining our landscapes. They are important in terms of both culture and recreation. The main river catchments that occur in Berkshire are the Thames, Kennet, Lambourn, Pang, Loddon and Colne, although there are great differences in gradients and geology within these lowland rivers. Ponds are another important habitat both regionally and locally and have now been added to the UK priority habitat list. These wetlands have a range of uses and, as a result, there can be conflicts between tourism, recreation, industry and biodiversity.

Follow this link for the Berkshire wetland targets.

Further information on the definitions and reasons why these habitats are priorities are on the UK BAP website:

• Rivers (including Chalk Rivers)
• Lowland Fens
• Reedbeds
• Floodplain Grazing Marsh
• Eutrophic Standing Waters

The main objectives for the wetland action plans are:

• To establish the extent and value of the current priority BAP wetland habitats in Berkshire.
• To safeguard and tailor the management of sites of conservation value.
• To create and restore areas of new wetland habitat sites where appropriate, e.g. through mineral extraction or planning gain.
• To minimise damage and disturbance to habitats and species on sites with mixed uses such as fishing, recreation and wildlife.
• A longer term objective is to monitor and manage sites for specific BAP species.

The action plans for the Berkshire wetland habitats are attached below:

Standing Open Waters

Rivers and Associated Floodplain Habitats