Pond Conservation
Creating Priority Ponds on Aggregates Sites
The Million Ponds Project aims to create a network of clean water ponds for freshwater wildlife across the UK. The Cotswold Water Park Society will be working with Pond Conservation to achieve this in the Cotswold Water Park.
Key Facts
- Aggregates sites are excellent places to create clean water ponds.
- Ponds are cheap, quick and easy to create, and can be integrated as part of any quarry after-use, including nature conservation, recreation or housing.
- Ponds on aggregates sites can be created during or even after the restoration phase.
- Making clean new ponds is a simple and effective way to protect freshwater wildlife.
- 80% of our existing countryside ponds are damaged by pollution.
UK Pond Habitat Action Plan
The creation of new clean water ponds will support delivery of the new UK Pond Habitat Action Plan and will provide habitat for 80+ Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species.
In 2009 the Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan (2007-2016) adopted a new Pond HAP to increase focus upon pond conservation and creation in the Cotswold Water Park. All works will feed into the Million Ponds Project.
Pond Conservation Minerals Project Officer
A Minerals Project Officer is now working at Pond Conservation to advise aggregates industry stakeholders on clean water pond creation and will be in post until March 2011. The aim of the project is to encourage the creation of 100-200 clean water ponds on aggregates sites across England.
A number of resources are available to support this work:
- Free site visits, design and other technical support
- The Pond Creation Toolkit (available online)
- Bespoke training courses
- A pond-digging fund, developed in association with Biffaward, is available to fund pond creation specifically for BAP species. The current round of applications to the pond-digging fund is open and will close 22nd January 2010.
The Minerals Project Officer will be working with the Cotswolds Water Park Society’s Biodiversity Officer, Gareth Harris, to support pond creation schemes across the Cotswold Water Park.
If you want to create new ponds for wildlife please contact the Minerals Project Officer, Madeleine Ryan at mryan@pondconservation.org.uk or on 01865 483115, or visit www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds
