All About Dairy

Creating wetlands

 

Rain is amoozing for farms. It fills the troughs, the drains, soaks into the ground and makes grass grow long and lush.

But sometimes, too much rain can also be bad for farms as it can lead to things like floods!

Did you know that wetlands are a moovellous way to reduce the impact of floods? They help protect the land from flood damage by soaking up surface flood water and holding it, releasing it slowly over time.

Protecting or creating even small wetlands on farms adds a lot of value to the environment.

Why are wetlands great for the environment?

356 Factpage Tile Wetland 1

Wetlands help protect land from flood damage by collecting and holding surface water and releasing it slowly over time.

Releasing water in dryer periods helps to maintain regular water flow and water levels in streams, rivers and drains.

Wetlands trap soil (sediment) which helps to keep waterways healthy and clean.

The plants in wetlands act as sieves, soaking up unwanted stuff like bacteria and nitrogen so it doesn’t go into the water.

Wetlands create habitats for fish, birds, and native plants and animals.

See how dairy farmer Stu Muir is looking after the native plants and animals