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New Ponds and Old Ponds
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polarwind Offline
#1 Posted : 25 July 2010 08:43:51(UTC)

Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 04/05/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,514
Location: Derby

When I was a lad, I remember very well the fascination of exploring with friends, the pond wildlife in the countryside and this keeping us off the streets to some extent. This to me seems a worthwhile project.

The creation of new freshwater ponds in Britian is having a positive impact on wildlife, the Environment Agency says.

The regulator is involved in charity Pond Conservation's plan to replace or restore the 500,000 ponds said to have been lost in the past century.

It says biodiversity has rapidly improved in the 234 ponds it has worked on so far this year.

Some 80 threatened species of aquatic insects, amphibians and plants are said to rely on the ponds for survival.

Wildlife including water voles, natterjack toads and great crested newts have all been spotted in the new ponds, the Environment Agency said.

see -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10752926

Something to promote methinks.

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts". - Bertrand Russell
Dave
Derby
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DBH Offline
#2 Posted : 29 July 2010 08:03:27(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 10/04/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,119
Location: Kendal
I agree entirely.

despite shrill cries of "its a potential death trap" ponds are little havens for wildlife and more shoudl be done to protect / recreate as appropriate.

Shame the governement is more than decimating both the Environment Agency and Natural England. Local Authorities, DEFRA, EA etc. have less discretionary money to give to (amongst many other things) wildlife projects - which in turn is hitting local Wildlife Trusts... (So much for getting the third sector to lead the way)

Reductions/ changes in stewardship grants to farmers will also harm biodiversity.
Changes in planning policy have already weakened the obligation on developers to mitigate or compensate for losses of biodiversity due to development.

Dave

Geology shows that fossils are of different ages. Paleontology shows a fossil sequence, the list of species represented changes through time. Taxonomy shows biological relationships among species. Evolution is the explanation that threads it all together. Creationism is the practice of squeezing one's eyes shut and wailing "Does not!"


Help support www.kendalmrt.org.uk/ keep the blue lights flashing!

Or www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/basecamp the national support group
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bradders Offline
#3 Posted : 29 July 2010 10:21:00(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 20/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,478
Location: Cheadle Hulme, Stockport

I agree entirely as well. We had a pond in our back garden for many years and the diversity of wildlife in it was endlessly fascinating. Apart from Frogs of course, and frogspawn then Tadpoles every spring, we had all sorts of pond insects, two types of Snails. And of course birds came to drink from the pond, and sometimes have a bath in it. Dragonflies and Damselflies were frequent visitors as well. We never had any fish though.

Then early last year we decided to fill it in because we now have a Grandchild, and ponds and small children are a recipe for disaster.

When we emptied it we found around 60 frogs at the bottom (and it was only a 7ft by 5ft pond). We took them all to a wildlife pond in a nearby park and gave them a new home.

Now we have a boring lawn where the pond used to be. Looking back, I wish I had kept the pond and found an effective way of fencing it in.


Eric. Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

The trouble with retirement is you never get a day off. Abe Lemons.
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DEW Offline
#4 Posted : 30 July 2010 08:20:13(UTC)

Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 05/04/2006(UTC)
Posts: 4,113
Location: Chichester
bradders wrote:

I agree entirely as well. We had a pond in our back garden for many years and the diversity of wildlife in it was endlessly fascinating. Apart from Frogs of course, and frogspawn then Tadpoles every spring, we had all sorts of pond insects, two types of Snails. And of course birds came to drink from the pond, and sometimes have a bath in it. Dragonflies and Damselflies were frequent visitors as well. We never had any fish though.

Then early last year we decided to fill it in because we now have a Grandchild, and ponds and small children are a recipe for disaster.

When we emptied it we found around 60 frogs at the bottom (and it was only a 7ft by 5ft pond). We took them all to a wildlife pond in a nearby park and gave them a new home.

Now we have a boring lawn where the pond used to be. Looking back, I wish I had kept the pond and found an effective way of fencing it in.

With respect for your initial reaction, I deplore the fact that you felt you had to fill it in. My niece and her husband did the same with a pond, full of frogspawn when I saw it, in the garden of their new house. A stout fence would have kept their kids out until they were 5 or 6, old enough to know what the risks were and also old enough to have the excitement of watching pond life grow in their very own garden. I remain very disappointed.
When two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather - Dr. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
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bradders Offline
#5 Posted : 30 July 2010 16:30:16(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 20/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,478
Location: Cheadle Hulme, Stockport

DEW wrote:
bradders wrote:

I agree entirely as well. We had a pond in our back garden for many years and the diversity of wildlife in it was endlessly fascinating. Apart from Frogs of course, and frogspawn then Tadpoles every spring, we had all sorts of pond insects, two types of Snails. And of course birds came to drink from the pond, and sometimes have a bath in it. Dragonflies and Damselflies were frequent visitors as well. We never had any fish though.

Then early last year we decided to fill it in because we now have a Grandchild, and ponds and small children are a recipe for disaster.

When we emptied it we found around 60 frogs at the bottom (and it was only a 7ft by 5ft pond). We took them all to a wildlife pond in a nearby park and gave them a new home.

Now we have a boring lawn where the pond used to be. Looking back, I wish I had kept the pond and found an effective way of fencing it in.

With respect for your initial reaction, I deplore the fact that you felt you had to fill it in. My niece and her husband did the same with a pond, full of frogspawn when I saw it, in the garden of their new house. A stout fence would have kept their kids out until they were 5 or 6, old enough to know what the risks were and also old enough to have the excitement of watching pond life grow in their very own garden. I remain very disappointed.

I deplored the fact that I had to fill it in, but there were other opinions to take into account other than my own. All is not lost though, I am already planning a new pond, one that will be easier to cover or fence in.

The grass that replaced the pond is a waste of space and too small to do much with, It has to go, I just havn`t told my wife yet


Eric. Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

The trouble with retirement is you never get a day off. Abe Lemons.
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nouska Offline
#6 Posted : 30 July 2010 17:16:30(UTC)

Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 05/04/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,282
Location: SW France
Talking of reactions to open water, the French have some crazy laws. Following the tragic death of a politician's grandchild in a swimming pool, all pools must now be secured with a fence and locked gate or some sort of solid covering. The penalties for non conformity are large and vigorously enforced - understandable you might say till you actually inspect the countryside and discover that all these homes with fortress pools have one or more open natural ponds/lakes. It's a natural necessity for conserving rainwater in an arid summer climate, no fencing restrictions there but every bit as dangerous in reality.
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