Often one of the most neglected on-farm habitats, ponds can really have an impact on wildlife considering the small area they occupy.

Providing they remain unpolluted, ponds are refuges for aquatic invertebrates, wetland plants, amphibians and fishes.

They are also sources of food and nesting sites for farmland birds, flowering plants for pollinators and drinking water for wildlife.

See also: How cultivated arable margins help rare plants and biodiversity

When they’re well-managed, farm ponds support a vast array of wildlife. 

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust research shows restored ponds had twice as many bird species (36 versus 18) and almost three times as many birds visiting them as overgrown sites.

Pond loss

From being a widespread natural habitat in the farmed landscape, many ponds have been lost over the years through drainage and land reclamation.

Two-thirds of the ponds present in England and Wales during the late 19th century have gone, while others have been encroached by scrub and trees or badly affected by nutrients and other pollutants.

For wildlife to thrive, high-quality ponds are needed. By that, researchers mean ponds that are pollution-free and not dominated by scrub or excessively shaded by trees.

When opened to sunlight, there’s a dramatic change.

“Letting daylight and oxygen in means that they become species-rich in a short period of time,” explains Professor Carl Sayer of the Pond Restoration Research Group at the University College of London.

Ideally, a variety of pond types should be present, including many shapes and sizes and depths, which vary in terms of permanence and shading.

© Tim Scrivener

Creating ponds

New ponds can be created by just digging a hole in the ground where it will fill with water, but a bit of design and suitability for the local area will ensure best results.

Ponds do not need to hold water all year round.

Seasonal ponds are also good habitats and add to the options. They should hold water through the winter and into spring, but can be dry in summer.

Focus on the edges with new ponds as this is where most pond wildlife is found.

The edge drawdown zone is important – creating long, undulating drawdown areas and irregular margins is key as wetland biodiversity is very mobile.

Plenty of very shallow water, less than 10cm deep, is needed, along with wet ground.

Where possible, aim for a variety of depths, with deeper and shallower pools giving the most options for wildlife.

New ponds should always be left to colonise naturally. This is usually a rapid process; introducing species is unnecessary and risks non-native invasive species establishing.

Restoring ponds

Most pond restoration involves scrub and sediment removal, although the first step is to choose an appropriate pond for the work.

With neglected sites, the aim is to clear them so they are no longer completely shaded and to remove enough sediment to return it as close to the original pond profile as possible.

“Letting the sun in brings back plants that used to be supported – mud and sediment removal helps to expose long-buried but still viable seeds, bringing back older species,” says Carl.

The best time to do restoration work is from September to November, when water levels are low and there will be minimal impact on the breeding seasons of birds and amphibians.

“Remove trees and scrub from at least 50% of the pond margin and be prepared to make a major impact on mud removal.”

Only soft mud should be removed and some sediment should be left in the pond bottom, to supply the water plants.

“Don’t dig out the marl layer or bankside material, as that can cause damage. Any removed sediment can be put on a nearby arable field.”

Is there funding for ponds?

When the Sustainable Farming Incentive was open for applications, the action WBD1 Manage Ponds paid £257 a pond/year for a three-year agreement in SFI24, to a maximum of three ponds/ha.

For that, farmers had to manage the pond by controlling scrub around the edge and trying to avoid livestock trampling and poaching the pond edge.

The aim was to have a pond with clear and clean water and the purpose was to increase biodiversity, improve water quality and provide habitats for native species.

Countryside Stewardship also funded pond creation restoration and management through various options, so existing schemes may still be relevant.

Otherwise, areas with a district level licensing scheme for great crested newts can receive funding for 25 years.

Run by Natural England, this is a landscape-scale approach to provide new or better habitats in targeted areas.

What makes a high-quality wildlife pond?

According to a guide on restoring, creating and managing ponds for wildlife, by the Freshwater Habitats Trust and the Pond Restoration Group, the first step is to ensure the pond’s water source is clean.

Most water sources are either groundwater or surface water that drains from unpolluted areas.

Don’t opt for a pond that is fed by streams, ditches or field drains, or one that receives road run-off or other pollution.

Use local knowledge and consider the wider landscape.

New ponds should be created where they will be surrounded by semi-natural habitats such as unimproved grassland, heathland or woodland.

If situated close to other waterbodies and wetlands, they will act as stepping stones for plants and animals.

In an intensively managed landscape, typical of most arable farms, make use of field corners or other areas where the ponds can be well-buffered. A 10m buffer of rough grassland is ideal.

Another key requirement is to make the pond just for wildlife. Ponds that are multifunctional don’t make good wildlife habitat due to frequent disturbance and contamination.

© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo