• Pond creation
• Pond creation
• Wetlands: reed beds and wader scrapes
• Badger setts
• Hibernacula
• Tree and shrub planting
• Badgers
• Dormice
• Great crested newts
• Water voles
• Bats
• Reptiles
• Birds
• How to make your garden more wildlife friendly

Pond creation

A pond is defined as a water body which can be up to 2 hectares (5 acres) in size, and hold water for at least 4 months of the year.

It is estimated that in the UK we have lost two thirds of our countryside ponds in the last century.  Ponds provide habitat for many species, some of which are protected, such as great crested newts and water voles, as well as enhancing the habitat and providing feeding places for species such as grass snakes, bats, birds and otters.

Clean, unpolluted ponds support the greatest variety of wildlife.  For this reason it is often more ecologically beneficial to build a new pond rather than restore an existing one, as a new pond can be built in an area where it is easy to keep the water clean.  Variation in size and structure are important in the success of a ponds' ability to support wildlife, with different species benefitting from different environments within the pond.

Building a pond requires good planning and can involve obtaining permission from a local planning authority, and sometimes a licence from the Environment Agency.  Factors such as which time of year to build the pond, its location, which types of vegetation to introduce, whether to use a pond liner, and if so, which type, all need to be considered before the project is undertaken.

Thomson Habitats have managed several pond creation projects, varying from building just 1 pond to up to 40 ponds on one site, in both brownfield and greenfield areas.

After marking out where the pond is to be situated using GIS technology, we strip off the topsoil, carry out the earthworks involved in excavating the pond according to the specifications.  We line the pond wih suitable pond liner if required, or puddle a layer of clay, fill the pond with water, and introduce aquatic and marginal plant species.

In this way we provide habitat for newts, reptiles, water voles and other species where their existing habitat has been compromised by development works.

For examples of some of our previous pond creation projects, please follow the links below:

Habitat creation for newts and reptiles

Water vole, reptile and amphibian habitat creation works