©Jamie Hall
Bolstering the Somerset Bittern Population
Enhancing bittern populations across the Somerset Levels and Moors
Habitat enhancements
As part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP), we are leading on two new exciting projects to enhance threatened species populations across Somerset, including the Bolstering the Somerset Bittern Population project.
With project delivery lasting from July 2026 until March 2029, this Species Recovery project aims to enhance bittern populations across the Somerset Levels and Moors. This will be achieved through:
Obtaining a greater understanding of current populations and breeding sites, food sources, non-native predators and habitat condition
Direct reedbed habitat enhancements and the provision of management advice to enable improvements in these habitats
We are excited to work with landowners, and delivery partners RSPB & Natural England, to enhance reedbed and wetland habitats for bittern across the Somerset Levels and Moors
Project Team
Project Manager: Finlay Clothier
Further project information
The project will undertake research to map and assess the condition of current reedbed/wetland habitat, assess food assemblages and trial innovative drone and thermal surveying techniques to record breeding sites.
Research will inform and enable habitat enhancements on our reserves and advisory work to extend habitat on land across the project area, improving the Somerset bittern population.