Wildlife Pond Creation and Management

Ponds for Wildlife Conservation, Preservation and Protection

According to the Freshwater Habitats Trust and the Wildlife Trusts, a well-designed wildlife pond is one of the single best features that can be added to a site to benefit wildlife.

All over the country, freshwater habitats have declined rapidly, leaving plants and animals without the year-round water source needed to survive.

From agricultural land to urban areas and everything in between, creating ponds offers a fresh drinking source for small creatures and an incredibly rich environment for aquatic wildlife, such as dragonfly larvae, pond skaters and water beetles.

In modern development projects, wildlife ponds are often a vital part of environmental and ecological conditions.

A dry summer or dry weather in other months of the year can lead to ponds drying out. With the help of permanent ponds, planners and developers can fight back against climate change, and local wildlife can thrive, even in hot weather.

Reasons for Needing Wildlife Ponds

Whenever an ecological consultant suggests installing on-site ponds to create a relatively balanced ecological state, the pond itself will be worked into the design of the project.

The approach aims to allow new wildlife to colonise ponds naturally over several years, setting it up to eventually become a thriving mature pond.

As for the reasons why wildlife ponds are suggested for a development site, the common causes include:

Adhering to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

The easiest way to hit biodiversity net gain targets is by adding more plants and water bodies to create habitats where none existed before.

Even a small pond or a mini pond can significantly boost a site’s biodiversity value by providing a terrestrial habitat for other species to live in.

Controlling Invasive Species

Professional pond management is an important part of ensuring that non-native invasive species do not out-compete native species.

Invasive plants are originally from New Zealand and other countries outside of the British Isles.

If invasive non-native species aren’t managed correctly, they can cause any level of damage to the environment, built structures and other aquatic plants.

Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience

Using suitable bodies of water, a wider range of pond wildlife can move through the landscape.

By creating nooks and placing irregular-shaped rocks, ponds provide cover for frogs and toads, as well as other small wildlife pond visitors.

Guiding Specialist Site Constraints

When you manage surface water run-off naturally, a pond can reduce the need for otherwise costly drainage infrastructure.

Due to the option to build them above or below ground, ponds can offer a flexible way to use the dead space around underground gas and electricity lines.

Supporting Protected Species

A new pond is a perfect habitat for meeting the ecological and environmental conditions of a planning project when it comes to safeguarding protected species.

The creation of pond habitats is often a legal necessity for great crested newt mitigation, as establishing the important habitats early allows for smoother translocation.

It is also effective for water vole mitigation and creating habitats for grass snakes and great crested newts that could otherwise be displaced.

On top of that, using permanent or temporary fencing will ensure adherence to licensing conditions.

The Wildlife Pond Construction Process

To build a wildlife-friendly water body, the installer needs to use a delicate balance of engineering and ecology, as well as a consideration of different conditions and different species.

During the professional installation of a wildlife pond, the finished pool must become a self-sustaining pond system that functions effectively every year and through all of the different seasons.

Steps Towards Making a Wildlife Pond

The specialist team we refer to for creating wildlife ponds follows a methodology to ensure long-term habitat success:

1. Site Selection

Choosing to position centrally within the green space, a pond is best in an open and sunny spot, as it avoids rotting leaves and dead organic matter from reaching it, and the leaf litter affecting nutrient levels.

2. Ground Penetration

Protecting the integrity of the build, installers remove stones from the lowest level where the pond will sit. After all sharp stones are removed, a specialist protective layer will be used to prevent any problems from beneath the pond.

3. Levelling and Excavation

Using a spirit level to ensure that all sloping sides are perfectly even with the ground surrounding it and the installers keep the pond compact, the installation stage is fundamental, as it addresses any gently sloping edges and helps to ensure that the pond fills correctly in one go.

4. Water Sourcing

Filling the pond with the right water, professionals opt to prioritise rain-water from a water butt whilst tap water is avoided due to the risk of excessive algae growth, blanket weed and filamentous algae.

5. Edge Naturalisation

Confirming that the structure of the pond is now set, installers will place turf or rough grassland around the edge of the pond to provide good cover for smaller creatures.

6. Establishment Phase

During the first year of the pond being a part of the area, it is a good idea to leave the pond to settle, allowing the pond surface water to neutralise safely.

Suitable Materials for Wildlife Ponds

Choosing moderately cheap but durable materials is essential for long-term pond life.

Specialist contractors typically use butyl rubber for the finished pond, as a butyl liner degrades far more slowly than a plastic bag.

To avoid a punctured liner appearing at any point, installers could decide to fit old carpet or loft insulation material over the surface area as an additional protective layer.

During the installation of the base, professionals may even use a thin layer of sand substrate dispersing across the bottom as a natural footing for native species.

If the space permits, the design can include an extra excess liner to create a marshy area where bog plants – bugle (Ajuga reptans), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) and water mint (Mentha aquatica), for instance – can thrive.

It is important not to leave any areas of uncovered liner exposed for too long, as an exposed liner or overhanging pond liner can be quickly damaged by full sun or warm water.

Technical Wildlife Pond Design Standards

Specialist installers follow specific biological standards, helping the wildlife pond to function as a high-quality habitat.

Avoiding very steep sides and instead opting for shallow water, shallow sloping banks and shallow margins adds to the open access for wildlife visitors.

In the winter months, the maximum depth is maintained at a minimum of 60cm. Keeping the pond depth at this level will prevent freezing during especially cold periods.

The technical design usually features an irregular-shaped pond edge with a shallower area to support marginal plants and emergent vegetation.

Installers will keep a large portion of the pond open and clear encroaching vegetation to maintain high levels of oxygen and a healthy pond system.

With this approach, the completed habitat will support animal and plant species to the same level of care as you would see with protected areas, such as sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), special areas of conservation (SACs), special protection areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites.

Wildlife Pond Installers Near Me

Our team are experts on ecological and arboricultural services, as well as other assessments, reports and plans designed to help developers and planners with getting planning permission.

As for anything to do with pond restoration, creation or design, we pass clients on to a trusted third-party partner we work with.

After a specialist referral, the team we recommend can then go on to fit the flexible liner, perform the initial filling, and carry out all other stages in the installation.

From there, the wildlife pond experts can provide further advice on water quality and ensure that the existing pond mirrors the biodiversity qualities of the UK’s natural ponds.

Experts in the Management of Wildlife Ponds

At every stage of the process, a trusted wildlife pond specialist will guide the way for you. The team can carefully check the soil type to determine the most practical source for water retention, considering the use of puddled clay or a synthetic membrane.

They will also ensure that aquatic habitat is protected from polluted water, excessive algal growth, or the introduction of undesirable seeds from garden soil.

Most people who work on wildlife pond creation, management and restoration source from reputable garden centres instead of a standard garden pond supplier to ensure wildlife protection at the highest level.

Based on a resilient design, a large number of species can colonise the area around the pond safely, and slopes on one side of the pond can offer at least two ways for wildlife to enter and exit easily.

Choosing the Right Time for Help with a Wildlife Pond

With anything related to a planning project, arranging what you need early guarantees that you get the best time available and aren’t stuck dealing with delays and extra fees.

Specialist installers may suggest late March for planting, or late summer or early autumn in the case of major excavations.

If you need to establish habitats before spring, it is possible to start work in late autumn or even late winter when pond creatures are dormant.

Using a meticulous approach, all submerged plants will be correctly placed to oxygenate the pond water, and areas of dappled shade and open water are balanced to manage fluctuating water levels in seasonal ponds.

Speak to Our Team for a Referral

If you’ve been asked to attract wildlife and create an attractive garden feature with high wildlife value as part of your development, we can refer you to a specialist team for support.

From handling plant material to choosing native pond plants and aquatic baskets, they can help with your pond. Ponds required to meet your targets could consist of a single pond or several ponds. Regardless of how many ponds you need and whether you need a small or large pond, the team we work with will give you the insight you need.

Speak to the team at Arbtech for a referral by contacting us on our website, over the phone or via email. With your details, we can then pass you on to the partner company we work with and start helping you with hitting your environmental targets.