Pond, scrape and wetland creation

Group members have the following proposals for waterbodies on their holdings:

• Construction of two ponds;
• Pond restoration and creation of a wetland area/scrape;
• Creation of a 7-acre fishing lake on land that is currently a lower-quality agricultural grassland field.

For full project proposals and budgets, please get in touch. 

Why create waterbodies on farms?

A waterbody does not have to be a pond; it could be a lake, wetland or natural ditch, all of which provide different opportunities for wildlife.

The shallow water and exposed mud at the edge of ponds is particularly important for wildlife. For aquatic insects, it provides safe habitat in which to live, but also has benefits for terrestrial species which will take advantage of wet muddy margins or banks to breed – including many pollinators.

Flowers at water margins such as angelica, water-mint and purple loosestrife are valuable for pollinators. Healthy waterbodies can support a huge number of marginal and aquatic plants, including once common plants like marsh marigold and water crowfoot.

A network of healthy ponds and wet habitats are essential for amphibians to breed, and grass snakes are strongly associated with ponds and other wetlands as they feed on amphibians and fish. Birds and mammals will also make use of many wet habitats to drink.

One of the key points to managing waterbodies is appropriate buffering to protect them from run-off and pollutants, as many species rely on clean water to survive.

Source: Farm Wildlife

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