Case Study

RSPB – Beckingham Marshes – water level management and wetland habitat enhancement 

Habitat Works were commissioned by the RSPB to deliver targeted water level management and wetland habitat enhancement at Beckingham Marshes.

The project focused on installing a series of water control features and improving ditch connectivity to enable precise, responsive management of water levels across the lower fields. The aim being to support priority breeding and wintering bird species.

Wetland habitats depend on carefully managed water levels to remain suitable for wildlife. At Beckingham Marshes, limited control over water distribution across the site was restricting habitat quality and resilience.

The RSPB required a solution that would:

  • Enable greater control of water levels across multiple fields
  • Improve water movement through the ditch network
  • Support key species, including Lapwing and Redshank
  • Be delivered sensitively within an active nature reserve
  • Installation of 3 water control structures.
  • 450m of ditch network restored through de-silting.
  • Creation of separate hydrological units for improved water management.
  • Increased shallow flooding delivering record wintering Wigeon numbers.
  • Enhanced breeding conditions for Lapwing and Redshank.

Scope of Works

We delivered a targeted programme of wetland habitat works and water control infrastructure, designed to maximise ecological benefit while minimising environmental impact.

Key elements included:

  • Installation of three 300mm water control pipes to regulate water levels
  • Integration of 225mm pipes with flap valves to allow controlled drainage
  • Construction of bunds to retain and manage water effectively
  • De-silting approximately 450m of ditch network to improve water flow
  • Use of locally sourced material to form bunds and create shallow, naturalistic scrapes
  • Installation of protective fencing and seeding of disturbed areas to support site recovery.

Health and safety was a key consideration throughout the project, with all works delivered in line with CDM principles. A well-planned and coordinated approach ensured that risks were effectively managed from start to finish, supported by competent operatives, clear site controls, and close collaboration with the RSPB. This ensured the works were completed safely and efficiently within a live reserve environment, protecting both site personnel and the surrounding area.

The improvements to water level control and ditch connectivity have already delivered significant ecological benefits across the site. By creating three distinct hydrological units, the RSPB can now manage water levels with far greater precision, enabling targeted habitat management throughout the year. This has allowed key areas to be filled to capacity for the first time, increasing the extent of shallow flooding and creating ideal conditions for wintering wildfowl, including Wigeon, which have been recorded on site in notable numbers.

These changes are also improving habitat suitability for breeding waders. Enhanced water management supports optimal sward conditions for species such as Lapwing, while also creating favourable conditions for Redshank and other wetland birds. Overall, the project has strengthened the site’s ecological resilience, enabling a more dynamic and responsive approach to wetland habitat management.

Client Testimonial

“Habitat Works completed an excellent week of work at RSPB Beckingham Marshes during the summer of 2025, focused on enhancing our ability to manage water levels on the reserve. New water control pipes were installed and sections of the ditch network cleaned out to improve water movement. The results have been fantastic, with the 3 hydrological units on the reserve now separated by the control pipes, allowing for more efficient use of our limited water supply and for the central unit, for the first time, to be filled to capacity, creating a significantly larger area of shallow flooding compared to previous years.

This lured in record numbers of Wigeon to the field during the winter, with their grazing further improving the sward conditions for the lapwing, which will nest here during the spring. The team were flexible, friendly and easy to work with, getting all the tasks completed within the week.”

— Joe Harris, RSPB Site Manager