In the Summer of 2019, I was in ‘The Dark Place’. I took two weeks off work and spent almost the entire time digging a pond – it was nice to do something physical and burn off that anxious energy.
Having a pond has been a wonderful addition to daily life and there’s way too much to write about in one blog post. I thought for this one, I would focus simply on why having a pond can be such a good addition to your life, as well the local ecosystem. The inspiration and insight it’s given me has been incredible.
The context that brings to life the importance of ponds sits on predictable ground: human activity is causing a decline in natural ponds and pond quality. In fact, over the past 100 years, we’ve lost 70% of our ponds from the UK countryside – often to make way for other uses such as building developments. Of those that remain, pollution and invasive plants are threatening their quality and ability to sustain life.
The impact of this decline is huge, when you consider the potential that ponds and freshwater habitats have to sustain life. With them in decline, teems of species are losing habitats and breeding ground as well as access to food, water and shelter.
Supermarket-bought watercress is great for ponds - as you can see!
There are a number of projects past and present that are working on restoring our natural ponds, but based on everything I’ve read so far, one of the best actions you can take is to put one in your own garden, if you have one. In fact, garden ponds have become essential tools in helping to sustain the many species being driven out of countryside wetland habitats.
If you’re considering putting a pond in, please allow me to mention a few of the benefits and maybe it’ll sway you to get going!
1 — Ponds are a rich habitat stretching across the food chain. As long as you keep interference to a minimum and remain open-minded, a pond can support so much life. One of the first things likely to arrive in Spring is the larvae of a number of small insects such as midges and mosquitos. This might make some people recoil – but without this crucial step, little else is likely to follow – after all, the ability for nature to survive relies on the food chain. So, these larval forms attract small invertebrates and beetles, which then attract larger invertebrates and beetles, which then attract birds, bats, frogs, toads and newts, which then attract herons, hedgehogs, owls and maybe even grass snakes.
In short: If you spot mosquito larvae in your pond (it looks like a small black thrashing worm with a large head) take it as positive sign of things to come - and even if you don’t get the larger species visit your pond for a while, know that there are lots of things benefiting from the pond being there (some of which are almost too small to see).
Ultimately, a pond (of any size) has the potential to both directly and indirectly sustain hundreds and thousands of creatures. However, it’s worth noting that ‘ornamental’ ponds (with features such as lighting, hard landscaped edges, powerful pumps/filters/waterfalls/fountains, fish and very little vegetation) do not have the same positive impact that a pond designed for wildlife does.
2 — Ponds are a watering hole. The natural world is not without its grisly moments, but seeing your pond used as a watering hole by so many different creatures will be a joy to behold. On a summery day, my pond is often alive with creatures sharing the precious resource of water; bees, hoverflies, wasps, blackbirds, sparrows, goldfinches, doves, pigeons…. often at the same time!
A toad having a nice cool down on a hot day
3 — Ponds give you an insight into the seasons. Most natural spaces give us a window into seasonal change, but there’s something intimate and dynamic about the way that a pond does.
In Spring, the perennial pond plants start showing new growth, and the surface of the pond starts to glitter with sunlight, caressed by the flitting water tracks of Pond Skaters, small insects and water beetles. It’s at this time that frogs, toads and newts begin to spawn too, if they’re in your area.
In Summer, the pond is lush and bright, and teeming with plant and insect life; dragonflies and damselflies visit to ‘scout’ potential laying sites, pollinators and birds stop for a quick drink; waterlilies fleetingly bloom before hiding away again at night. Mosquitos rise up from the pond and begin breeding and pollinating. Blue skies reflecting on the surface of a pond is really captivating, too.
In Autumn, many pond plants will give a final flourish before dying back. Slowly but surely many of the pond’s visitors start to depart, either to hibernate, to move to another pond or simply because their natural life is coming to an end. It feels like things are coming to a rest.
In Winter it becomes mostly lifeless to the seeing eye. Perennial vegetation dies back or goes into dormancy and anything that remains usually stays well out of sight, hiding in folds of the liner or in the detritus at the bottom. Layers of frost and ice over the surface keeps the heat in but makes the pond impenetrable. It’s all quite silent and peaceful, but if you’re lucky you’ll still get a glimpse of life here and there.
4 — Ponds are a relaxing and positive diversion. I can’t walk past my pond without glimpsing something or just stopping in my tracks to stare at it for a while. Humans have a long, deep history with water (having emerged from it) and while there still aren’t any concrete scientific reasons why, there is mounting research that indicates that being around water can have significant benefits to wellness.
5 — Ponds teach the value of patience. Even if you fill your pond from the start with plants and frogspawn, it’s worth knowing that a pond is a very complex ecosystem which can take years to reach a point of balance.
Your patience will be rewarded however, because everything native that arrives of its own accord over the years will have done so because it belongs there, and is therefore more likely to be a permanent fixture and thrive. You will have created a home. Be assured though, that along the way (and even after a balance is reached) there are still going to be surprises.
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I’ll exercise a bit of restraint and stop there, but to clarify: I am a big fan of ponds. There are loads of benefits to having one, both within and externally, and I invite anyone reading this to consider giving it a go.
For those who are interested, my next pond blog will be about my own pond and the various things I’ve learned along so far. I’m by no means an expert, but I’m happy to help anyone out who is thinking of putting one in their garden so please do give me a shout!
Sending warm Spring Equinox vibes your way,
Lewis
Common Darter dragonfly