The margins of the lakes are well vegetated and where they are not overhung by trees, support a scattered band of swamp and fen vegetation which serves the mammals well including the rare water vole, field voles, and harvest mice.
Common reed, forms extensive patches in the water, while other plants occupy a narrow fringe along the water’s edge. Of these the most abundant are sedges, rushes, bur-heads and reed-mace, with its spectacular flowering spike. In some areas, especially the south-east corner, these waterside plants cover a large area of species-rich marshland, interspersed with pools.
The trees that fringe the water are mostly willow they support a great variety of insect life – in particular, the caterpillars of many night-flying moths feed on the willows. Another tree that likes its roots in water is the alder, which occurs primarily in the northwest corner and in the central area.
In winter, the seed cones provide food for the siskins and redpolls. Both snipe and jack snipe occur in winter. Careful watching will often reveal rail skulking through the vegetation.
In summer, reed and sedge warblers and reed buntings nest in the marsh.
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