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Falkirk residents are being encouraged to create their own garden ponds in an effort to conserve and enhance wildlife in the local area.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is working with the Falkirk Area Biodiversity Partnership, which comprises over 50 other organisations and local groups, to show the benefits of pond-life which can provide many hours of fascinating wildlife watching. Ponds are a very rich habitat, particularly for insects, wetland plants and amphibians. They are also used by a variety of mammals, birds and fish. However during the 20th Century large numbers of ponds have been destroyed due to urban sprawl and the increase in intensive agriculture. Everyone with a garden can help reverse this decline by creating their very own pond.
Scotland has approximately 150,000 small water-bodies, many of which are naturally formed ponds and lochans. Although most garden ponds are small they can provide very valuable homes for wildlife and goldfish too! Garden ponds are now important breeding habitats for common newts and common frogs. Sticklebacks and dragonflies may breed in ponds and a surprising number of birds may drink and bathe in them. Such ponds can give enormous pleasure, and give children and many adults their first experience of wildlife.
“Creating a watery, wildlife haven in your garden needn’t be difficult. Everyone with a garden can help local wildlife by providing an area of water or wetland, whether it’s a wildlife friendly pond, a bog garden or simply a bird bath” explained Andy Hemingway of SEPA. He went on to give some advice about how you can create a wildlife friendly garden pond.
Most pond animals such as dragonflies, water beetles, mayflies, snails and other pond creatures, are tiny - often much less than the length of a thumbnail! Many of these are found in very shallow water (only a few centimetres deep) at the edge of a pond. It’s therefore important to ensure that at least part of the pond has extensive shallow edges. In general the more varied the slopes and longer the shoreline the better. Shelves of different depths provide habitats for different plant species whilst a depth greater than 60 centimetres allows the pond to freeze over in the winter without harming hibernating frogs.
Before creating a pond it is a good idea to dig a trial hole or roughly excavate the pond to find out the extent to which the pond will hold water for a year or two. If water isn’t retained then it will be necessary to line the pond.
The value of the garden pond as a habitat for wildlife is intimately related to the character of the surrounding land, so try and make space for wildlife around a garden pond by allowing wild plants (see below for a source) to grow and leaving some stones, woodpiles etc. in which animals can shelter.
Planting up ponds is not always necessary and almost everyone who makes a new pond will be struck by the remarkable speed at which creatures arrive at their pond. At this time of year bugs and beetles fly in within hours! If you are going to plant the pond then it’s very important to use native plants from a local source. The Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth has a variety of native plants for sale and can provide advice on choosing the right plants for your garden.
Ponds provide vital places in the Falkirk area for plants and animals to live and thrive alongside people. By creating your own garden pond you can help wildlife to flourish in what is likely to become the most fascinating part of your garden. If you cannot fit a wildlife pond in your garden, why not have a small container pond or birdbath, it will all help local wildlife.
For a chance to win a SEPA goody bag simply answer the following question: Approximately how many small waterbodies are there in Scotland?
Send your answer on a postcard marked ‘Ponds Competition’, with your name and address to: The Biodiversity Officer, Abbotsford House, David’s Loan, Falkirk, FK2 7YZ. By 15th August 2003.
ENDS
Note to Editors
Many gardening books now provide advice on garden pond creation or alternatively useful information sheets can be downloaded from www.pondtrust.org.uk. A publication on pond creation entitled “Ponds, Pools and Lochans” is available from SEPA by telephoning 01786 452595 or by accessing the SEPA website.
The Falkirk Area Biodiversity Partnership is chaired by Ken Richardson, BP Grangemouth and currently has over 50 members including: British Waterways, Central Scotland Forest Trust, Scottish Water, Falkirk Council, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, the Scottish Agricultural College, Forestry Commission, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Contact
Lynn McMath, 0131 273 7274
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