Carr Woodland
When a fen is left unmanaged small shrubs and trees may start to grow, leading to the natural creation of carr woodland. There are approximately 3000 hectares of woodland and scrub in the Broads, one third of which has developed within the last 50 years.
The most valuable areas of carr woodland in the Broads are those which are mature, rather than former fen areas which have been neglected and turned to scrub. Mature carr woodland is a largely undisturbed wilderness; a tangle of woody species, shade-tolerant herbs and lower growing plants.
Carr woodland wildlife
Carr woodland is dominated by alder, sallow and birch trees, with shrubs such as guelder rose, buckthorn, dog rose and brambles. The areas are damp, and shady with an abundance of ferns, mosses and liverworts, while extensive lichen and fungi grow on branches and dead wood. Important communities of alder trees with characteristic swampy ground conditions and large tussock sedges can also be found, often at the edges of broads.
Apart from the many common woodland birds that inhabit carr, some more specialised species can also be found. Heronries, the traditional breeding colonies of herons, are found in areas of carr woodland. In addition, a myriad of insects and other invertebrates inhabit these wet woodlands, contributing to their importance as a Broads habitat.
Carr woodland management
Less valuable areas of carr woodland are those that have recently developed from neglected fens, and in some cases, these can be cleared to open fen again, leaving a proportion of scrub within the fen as habitat for birds and invertebrates.
Mature carr is best left unmanaged for nature conservation, but areas of younger woodland can be enhanced, particularly by coppicing trees at the edges, to create a softer transition from fen to woodland.
Apart from its ecological importance, carr woodland is also a characteristic landscape feature of the Broads, giving scale and backdrop to the fens and broads, and softening the valley margins.
