Get a chair and a notebook, to make each visit to your pond an exploration

Ponds host a range of wildlife from the vegetation on the marginal edges to the shallow and deep open water areas. Ponds in the UK are declining which is a big problem as research suggests that garden ponds support more freshwater life than any other freshwater habitat found in the UK. This is because for many insect and amphibian species ponds are their homes and breeding spaces and are not polluted like many of our rivers. As well as being vital bathing areas and water holes for other larger animals like birds and hedgehogs,  garden ponds can also act as essential corridors for wildlife such as amphibians to move through our fragmented landscape.

Pond dipping is a great activity to do in the summer time. Fill a shallow light coloured tray of water from the pond, then sweep your net through the water in a figure 8 motion, being careful to not disturb the bottom. Gently empty out the net into the tray and see the range of wildlife that can be found in ponds.

So which creatures might you spot in and around your pond?

When taking a look at the wildlife in you pond expect to find insects like damselflies, pond skaters and dragonflies as they breed in the water, but if you take a closer look, you’ll find a whole range of critters below the surface.

Pond skaters can be seen between April and November gliding around the surface of the water because of the water-resistant hairs on the bottom of their feet. Dragonflies are some of the most beautiful wildlife with their vibrant colours and are also quick to move in, with species like the common darter and the broad-bodied chaser being found in the south of England. Spotting dragonfly exuviae (dried up skins of dragonfly larvae) is an easy way to know that adult dragonflies have emerged successfully from your pond. Caddis flies have a unique case to their larvae which makes them easier to spot compared to the adult flies. This ‘case’ is made by sticking bits of plants or sand grains together using silk to camouflage the larvae. Water scorpions are adapted to live in the water as they use their tail like a snorkel, keeping it out of the water so it can still breathe whilst waiting to ambush its prey e.g, tadpoles. The two-spotted water hoglouse is actually a crustacean that is closely related to woodlice, but lives in the water all year round. It’s one of 4 waterlouse species that are found in the UK and can be identified by its two pale spots on its head. There are over 40 different species of water snails, in the UK and are found pretty much anywhere. They can really vary in size from the Great Pond snail which can grow up to 4cm to the little Nautilus Rams horn which is only 2-3mm across.

There are around 350 different species of water beetles that can be found in the UK making them one of the most common insects found in ponds. The many different species can account for between a third and a half of all the species found in a good wildlife pond. The great diving beetle is a large distinctive beetle that can be easily spotted when surfacing to replenish its air supply. The beetle is around 3cm long and is a blackish-green colour with yellow edging around its wing casings. It’s also known for being a vicious predator hunting small invertebrates or in some cases even small fish. Whirligig beetles are one of the most recognizable species because they often swim on the waters surface in fast circles as they feed on insects that have fallen into the water. One unique feature that Whirligig beetles have is two pairs of compound eyes, one pair is for looking above the water presumably to warn it of preddatorsand one is for looking below giving them a great range of vision to spot their prey. Another kind of beetle with a unique adaptation is the lesser silver water beetle. It has tiny hairs on its underside which are used to trap air bubbles that are a part of its elaborate breathing system. These bubbles are where the beetle gets its silvery name from. However, they have been in decline to a point where they are now classified as endangered, mainly being found in Cheshire and the Somerset.

Amphibian like frogs, toads and newts also call garden ponds their home. They use them to breed, and their larvae spend several stages of their growth in the water before maturing into adults. Common tadpoles can sense if a pond is drying up and will develop faster to combat the changing water levels. Smooth newts also use ponds for breeding. They carefully wrap each of their eggs in a submerged leaf like water forget-me-not. When looking for newts it’s best to do it once it’s dark in the early summer, using a torch they are often seen around the margins of the ponds. Although in the wintertime newts and toads hibernate out of the water under logs and stones before returning in the spring to breed again.

Other animals, particularly birds also benefit from wildlife ponds. Larger ponds can support waterfowl like moorhens and coots, as well as being a food source for birds such as swallows which pick off insects from above the water. Bats also come to ponds as they are a source of freshly emerging/ breeding insects and can be best seen at dusk skimming low over the surface. Red mason bees collect mud from the side of ponds and use it to cap and line the eggs cells of their nests. Additionally, ponds can be a great water source for animals like badgers, foxes and hedgehogs to both bathe in and drink from. Which is why it’s important that ponds have a sloped edge so wildlife can easily get in and out without getting stuck.

Overall garden ponds are a versatile garden design feature as they are absolutely teaming with life and are a fantastic way to support the local wildlife even if its only on a small scale, whilst being a feature that can bring interest and a focal point to the space.

September:

Obviously keep up the watering in sustained hot weather. For years now we have been having sunny and dry Septembers

Top up the mulch to retain moisture and keep weeds down (don’t forget they kept on growing until Xmas last year!)

Keep pinching out your tomatoes and sowing new rills of lettuce, radishes and spinach

Time to prune the bigger shrubs that have finished flowering like Wigelia, Philadelphus, and Spirea- cut out the old flowering wood back to new growth that next year’s flowers will bloom from.

A harder cut of the Wisteria can wait till January.

Mow your lawn on a higher setting now to keep moisture in the grass to help mitigate against summer browning in dry spells

Start planning where you want your bulbs to come out in Spring. You can order them online now for planting until November.

Where to go in September

Sheffield Park in your diaries for late September for its dazzling autumnal displays of mature trees which will just be turning now