Seven ponds across Hatfield Forest, Woodside Green and Wall Wood have been restored as part of a major conservation project by the National Trust to improve freshwater habitats, support wildlife and increase the resilience of the landscape to a changing climate.
The project has restored a network of ponds that had become increasingly affected by silt accumulation, encroaching vegetation and scrub. These natural processes can gradually reduce the amount of open water available and diminish the ecological value of ponds.
Working in partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), conservation work has been undertaken to restore the ponds while retaining important aquatic and marginal habitats. The newly restored ponds are now starting to fill with water following the recent rain.
Collectively, the restored ponds form a more connected network of freshwater habitats across Hatfield Forest, Woodside Green and Wall Wood.
James Rowland, Property Operations Manager at Hatfield Forest, noted: “ponds can be easy to overlook, but they are incredibly valuable habitats within the landscape. They provide breeding and feeding habitats for amphibians and aquatic invertebrates, as well as drinking and bathing opportunities for birds and mammals. Healthy ponds can provide valuable refuge for wildlife during periods of drought, while their surrounding vegetation can help slow and retain water following heavy rainfall”.
“By restoring these seven ponds, we are not only creating better habitat for wildlife today, but helping to build resilience against the increasingly challenging conditions associated with climate change”.
The restoration forms part of the National Trust’s wider programme of conservation management at Hatfield Forest. The Forest is a nationally important landscape designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and supports a diverse mosaic of ancient woodland, wood pasture, grassland and wetland habitats.
