Conservation of Wildlife Rich Ponds
Water in a limestone landscape is a precious resource. There are relatively few "natural" ponds in the AONB but historically communities have harnessed springs to provide water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. Ponds today are an integral element in the areas heritage, welcome features in the dry limestone landscape and, being eutrophic, valuable habitats for wildlife.
Yealand Pond at the end of an old drovers track |
Deepdale Pond has been identified for restoration. |
Ponds are however ephemeral. Without ongoing care they vanish as natural succession takes its course. Management intervention is being carried out across the AONB to ensure the retention of ponds as heritage features, to maximise their value as wildlife habitats and to assure their enjoyment by people.
The original Pond Work programme identified nine ponds spread across the AONB for conservation measures. The work carried out on the ponds and wells was essentially a two stage comprising preliminary survey, with species and characteristics recording and assessment work, prior to practical management. Major intervention was only considered where ecologically considerations indicated any short term damage caused as an necessary consequency of taking action was outweighed by the need to ensure a future for the particular pond as a water body.
To view a copy of the Ponds Report (54 page report - 2,024kB) please click on the link.
