Newhouse Farm

ajstone · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: Pond Life

I dug out a trial pond in the low laying area of our field last year, it's about 40m2. We wanted to see if it would hold water naturally and although the level drops quite a bit between winter and summer it seems as though it has reached its lowest level.

Over the last year we've seen a number of real odd looking bugs etc move in. There's also the odd newt and a few toads, not seen a frog yet. It now teams with life and pond weeds all made their own way there.

But today, I saw a water vole made my day, god knows where it came from, a local ditch maybe. So plan to now enlarge it quite a bit to around 500m2.
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KevB · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

Local populations determine the commonest occupants of a new pond. My smaller pond instantly became home to nearly a hundred breeding frogs. I introduced newts and they also seem to be succesful, despite a reputation of being anti frog. No toads yet and my pond's been in for 12 years.

Best moment was watching dragonfly laying eggs on the base of marginals last spring.
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nick · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject:

sparhawkiw · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:11 am Post subject: Re: Pond Life

nick · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:17 am Post subject:

I agree with sparhawkiw.

The thought of destroying your successful pond (aka habitat) by enlarging it like that fills me with horror. Now that you have a successful pond, why not build a bigger one close by?

That way you could have the best of both worlds.
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sparhawkiw · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:36 am Post subject:

Hippierat · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

I would definatly go for building another pond, and why not create more of a bog garden - maybe between the too ponds, there is so much life (plant and animal/bug) that will fill nice wet soil

Lucie

ajstone · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply's you may or may not be disappointed with my plans.

We always intended having the larger pond if the trial one held water to a decent level through the summer months. With that in mind we dug the TP with the intention of digging the larger pond alongside and would only break through and join the two when the new pond had established itself. The point of breakthrough would also leave a small island which hopefully will benefit some other wildlife looking for a safe haven.

We will need planning permission for the this larger wildlife pond which we should get after paying the required ransom but I don't think we'd get it for several smaller ponds.
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sparhawkiw · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

Be careful what wildlife you admit to having then, as if you admit to having certain creatures you even have to have a licence to count them, & fill out paperwork requiring full step by step method statements on how & why the work is to be completed, which if accepted must be adhered to, any deviation could end up in a prosecution...

You may be tied as to what time of year you will be allowed to do the work...

Oh, & by the way water voles are protected, & also notifyable I believe...
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ajstone · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

I'm guessing we will be digging out in early winter so shouldn't disturb things too much.

Unfortunately "Ratty" seems to have moved on, I've not seen him since. I hope he returns, maybe he found the pond to be too small.
Our "common newt's" don't have any special protection unlike great crested newts but we will try to ensure they come to no harm.

One thing is for certain, if my local authority can find a way to increase the paperwork involved (and therefore cost to us) it will.
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columbusrat · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

sparhawkiw · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

So as not to disturb the old pond too much, personally I would probably be inclined to dig the second pond & go with the boggy area between the two things will migrate when the time is right, & the boggy are would be a slightly different habitat too..

Another possible thought would be to make the new one deeper/shallower in general than the old one once again creating another possibly even if its only slightly different habitat...
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columbusrat · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks sparhawkiw - I'd definitely make the new one deeper as the existing one is only something like 15" maximum which I know now isn't ideal.
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sparhawkiw · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:49 pm Post subject: