COME high summer, most of the wetland nature reserves are covered with tall, rank vegetation.

However, on each of the reserves, tall reeds and rushes usually tower above this jungle-like tangle, where they grow together to form dense patches which sway majestically in the breeze.

On Redstone Marsh, Stourport, reed canary grass is one such plant.

This grass grows to an enormous size, reaching up to two metres in height.

There is one other grass which grows even taller than this. Britain's tallest grass is known as the common reed.

Unfortunately these days it is not that common and its only occurence on the Wyre Forest District Council's wetland nature reserves is in a small area of Puxton Marsh.

Efforts are being made to increase the areas where this reed grows.

One location which has been planted up with this reed is the margins of a pool which was created as part of a new housing development in Stourport.

On most of the other reserves, the most prominent tall plant goes by the Latin name of typha latifolia.

This also has several English names, but is most commonly known as cat's tail, bulrush, or greater reed mace.

Thick areas of the tall broad dark green leaves of this plant can be seen at this time of year, forming great seas of green around the borders of Hurcott Pool and on the marshes at Puxton.

Later in the summer the plant will produce its distinctive dark brown seed head which looks like a sausage on a stick.

In terms of conservation, cat's tails provide habitat for many of the more unusual marshland birds but a watching eye has to be kept on its spread, as, if totally unchecked it could spread too much, covering areas of other interesting marshland plants.

Cat's tail is now starting to become established in small areas of Spennells Valley nature reserve.

This is good news as the establishment of a small area will encourage even more interesting marshland creatures to this restored marsh.

A few thousand years ago, everyone in Britain, from the earliest age, would have been able to recognise the cat's tail, as it would have been one of the most important plant food sources available.

Cat's tails are an easily harvestable, year round, rich source of carbohydrate.

These days, carbohydrate is often too readily available and many of the calorie conscious among us actively seek out foods with low carbohydrate content.

But back then life was a lot harder and plants with high carbohydrate content, like the cat's tail, could make the difference between life and death in lean times.