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Our Future Needs Reeds Reedbed's are natures sewage and purification system,

The type of plants chosen for a reed bed is just as important as the location aspect or size of the reed bed. Their importance is underlined by two principal reasons. The first is that they provide the correct type of “housing” on their roots for the bacteria, who do the entire breakdown work. The second is that they adjust to the location without any hindrance to their growth and form.

It appears that plants propagated from seeds, not from root cuttings or complete removal from one site to another, behave in a manner that does not suffer from restricted growth or “sulking” as re-sited plants do. Therefore their contribution to the functioning of the reed bed as designed is much quicker.

Furthermore, a reed bed should have varied plants and planting patterns to encourage the required bacteria to meet the designed pollutant breakdown times. This is an important process to meet compliance issues.

The best type of plants for most reed beds, and remember there is no generic solution, are those that have been inoculated with active bacteria, EM, and “weaned” onto the pollutant prior to location planting.

Plants

BACTERIA

Although it may be frightening to some and science fiction to others healthy happy bacteria are essential to a correctly working pollutant/effluent treatment system in either reed beds or other constructions like a MOF, microorganism filter system.

The same maxim applies to a bio diversity/wetland habitat construction.

The natural native to the area bacteria are usually encouraged to do the job we want with the introduction of EM, effective microorganisms. The EM bacteria, which are used in over 100 countries worldwide, are safe and easy to apply as has been found in New Zealand, which is a good model to follow.

We should look upon the pollutant/effluent treatment systems we build as a huge stomach, which if looked after will work well with no nasty after effects, such as bad smells and yucky water.

So, like it or not, bacteria are our friends and we need them in all reed beds, septic tanks, and AD, anaerobic digester, systems, All these systems will be self generating and totally sustainable for many years if maintained correctly, which is a real alternative to chemicals and good for our world. A good reed bed also acts as a carbon sink.

Pillerton Designs Ltd.

Telephone : 01933 278 122

The inoculation process stimulates the root growth which is essential for plant establishment and the creation of the different root filters needed to enable the bacteria to to their job in comfort

The plants for bio diversity and environmental wetland systems also benefit from early inoculation in the plant nursery as it helps the newly potted plants resist unwanted influences of weather and habitat.

It is also a wise move to engage experienced planters to reduce non-establishment, breakage and wilt problems.

The other aspect of choosing the most applicable plants for the reed bed site is the carbon adsorption value (CAV). Inoculated plants seem to fare better in this regards because they reach maturity more quickly.