Bristol UWE Field Trip
On the 30 May, as part of the Advanced Ecosystems Conservation in Practice, Masters students from Bristol UWE came to WWT Steart Marshes for the second year in a row. Utilising the reserve as the fantastic outdoor learning space that it is, they learnt some hugely important skills, predominantly in habitat survey techniques. Using the Field Studies Council in Nettlecombe as a base, students spent 3 full days on site undertaking phase 1 habitat mapping and saltmarsh condition assessments, collecting data for pollinator networks, and looking into surveying ecosystem services and function.
As an exemplar of wetland creation, demonstrating to people the benefits that wetlands bring to communities and wildlife, Steart Marshes offers the ideal location for students to put their field skills into practice. With a view to visit on an annual basis the students will be providing some important data to WWT about how the site is changing over time.
