historically referred acre biological kilometres north east kilometres somerset england notified notified special protection area birds directive low lying area laid older rocks years people lived areas slightly higher ground exploited reed beds materials built wooden cross raised extraction occurred area drained romans measures improve drainage carried middle ages largely 17th 18th centuries drainage work undertaken including digging series ditches larger drainage canals extraction peaked 1960s declined geology prolonged extraction provided unique environment provides habitat range flora fauna nature reserve managed based abandoned flooded particularly noted millions site location older age formations form islands composed lowland landscape formed years following end ice age sea level changed following era vegetation laid later converted peak formation took place swamp conditions years ago areas continued medieval times forms important grazing ditch system crossed canal water table high year extensive winter flooding occurring regularly level water tables artificially lowered active working excavations year filled water history originally lay centre northerly lowland raised formed lower reached greatest extent end iron age people exploited natural resources started construct wooden sweet post tracks sweet track named discovered dating bce world oldest timber thought world oldest engineered roadway track built early 4th millennium bce island ridge high ground close river remains similar tracks uncovered nearby connecting settlements including way history geology displayed closure centre included archaeological discoveries including number iron age round houses sweet track eastern covered pool formed water raised shown filled metres mud mainly dating climatic period 1st millennium prehistoric times situated lake occupied different times bce similar nearby early drainage work carried later years 12th century responsibility maintaining sea placed named individuals drainage surrounding area monks reduced size lake acres time pool disappeared maps pool originally collected waters rivers discharged northerly direction axe later years 12th century abbey diverted flow westwards largely natural channels pool join river early 17th century plans drain carried stages new built rivers river james wear division late advocated enclosure digging local drainage channels pronounced east west plots wrote square kilometres acres enclosed years square kilometres acres square kilometres acres square kilometres acres mark square kilometres acres square kilometres acres showed drained dressed clay soil built canal character soil changed spreading clay digging canal kilometre canal lock connecting river operational ceased 1850s land drained series ditches water levels level water table controlled system gates pumps water resource management operations managed somerset internal drainage board early 18th century duck built consisted pool water leading curving tapering ditches ditch series initially wood later iron diminish size ditch covered combination ditch net covered known pipe extraction large areas laid particularly period ice sheets melted extraction occurred area drained romans raised extensively dug use fuel end world war primary market large parts dug underlying clay exposing deposits dating isolation sea formation began introduction plastic packaging 1950s allowed packed rotting led extraction 1960s major market developed resultant reduction water levels resulted local ecosystems risk pasture fields occurring rates metres years bought hectares acres acid raised vegetation left somerset undamaged digging agriculture bought given hectares sculpted restored wetland experimental area marshes term given late 1980s describe wetland restored workings wetland clay dominated reed open water wetland restoration great success declared national nature reserve working beginning draw close majority remaining restored wetland completed land owners unsuccessfully appealed changes planning permission removed rights dig ecology supports nationally outstanding community terrestrial aquatic invertebrates nationally notable species occur meadows ditches abandoned workings provide suitable breeding habitats diverse nationally important breeding bird community conservation project project commenced january aims restore recreate habitats joining protected areas network enable plant animal movement aims ensure wildlife enhanced capable sustaining face climate change farmers landowners continue use land increasing number landscape scale conservation projects designated nature reserve covering hectares acres managed addition open water contains fragment acid largest survived south west england reserve provides habitat varieties birds includes millions november january banded species home large bird hide reached raised erected notified special protection area birds directive
Westhay Moor