The New Pond in autumn

The new pond is full to overflowing and the surrounding meadow is slowly re-establishing itself.

The clay base is a mixed blessing on the one hand allowing the pond to seal itself and hold water, which was one of the greatest worries initially,while on the other hand the suspension of clay particles are proving very slow to clear.
There are definite clumps of water starwort on the margins along with some duckweed, hopefully more marginal plants will gradually be introduced naturally from nearby sources.

The spoil heap is now well integrated into the meadow with a rich mix of wild fowers and grasses.

The addition of a log pile to this corner would be an added incentive for amphibians to colonise the area and the new pond.

The first signs of life, a lesser water boatman seems to be very at home, hopefully the first of many.

The Mickleover Meadows Ponds : August 2009

The New Pond at the Meadows

The new pond is going to be a success, the water level is holding and the surrounding meadow, which was inevitably damaged during digging work, is recovering well.

Although slow to clear there are signs that this will be a viable habitat. A preliminary survey found that there were greater water boatmen (back swimmers), pond skaters, lesser water boatmen and a rich supply of microscopic organisms which will provide food for future residents.

A small amount of duck weed has been imported from the other pond nearby and there is some algal growth at the margins.

It is important that this gradual and natural development is allowed to continue to allow a very special site to be established.

Next Spring will be a very exciting time when it is hoped that the nearby amphibian colonies will discover and start to breed in this new habitat.

Murray Park Pond

This pond is completely smothered with duck weed at the present time, the water level is low but it has kept water all year round since the improvements were made i.e. the dam and the link with the brook.

There has been a loss of plant varieties at the margins of the pond, and on the surface. The water starwort has been largely lost and the marsh marigold wasn't visible but the flag iris and the branched burr reed introduced in June are just about surviving.

Sampling for macroinvertebrates was hindered by the mud and duck weed contaminating the nettings, but we did find greater water boatmen, shrimp, pond snails, water slaters, daphnia and smooth newts. We also know we had a lot of frog spawn earler in the year so this pond is doing amazingly well considering the state it is in.

We are waiting until October, as advised, to clear the surface of duckweed, and hopefully this Autumn the promised tree work will take place, the improved light availabilty from both these actions should give is a much healthier, more desirable habitat. Perhaps next year it will achieve its' full potential.

The Meadows Pond in March

The Pond has its usual collection of debris and litter (pallets, chairs and fencing), but while the water level has dropped slightly in the last few weeks the plant and animal life seem to be doing well.
We have masses of frog spawn at various stages of development, none too advanced.
This edge of the pond which holds most of the plant growth (water starwort mainly) is where the frogs have deposited the frog spawn, and although some is now high and dry most of it will hopefully develop successfully.
After half an hour spent clearing the rubbish the pond looks good again.
As the trees come into leaf the lack of light will be a problem again, the promised tree clearance wasn't possible last year but hopefully next autumn it will happen.
Work planned for 'The Meadows' this summer with the addition of a new pond, one of several planned for Derby as part of Derby Wild Week, should encourage wildlife especially it is hoped the spread of amphibians in the area.

December clean up at meadows pond

A cold day and depressingly familiar sight as the pond was once again full of all the available junk from the adjacent school.
They seem to delight in transferring pallets, chairs and any other rubbish over the fence and into the water. Not an easy task but apparently one which is vital to their entertainment.
We spent a determined hour removing it in the sure knowledge that it would not be long before a similar scene would greet us in the coming weeks.
This was the result of our labours, the pond looks great, the water level at its best and a good covering of water starwort and some duckweed.
If it would remain undisturbed surely a perfect spot for wildlife.

Unfortunately a visit on the 19th Jan 2009 proved that the vandals had been at work again and pallets, a For Sale sign and general debris were once again back in the pond.
Another clean up needed.

Perhaps another word with the school caretakers, asking that such rubbish was not left next to the fencing by the pond, might be acted upon this time. We need to stop this mindless vandalism and make this pond something to be treasured.

Pond Clean-up Day... 27th September 2008

Ready for action!

In the end there were just two of us to there on a misty autumn morning. We were equipped with wheelbarrow, gloves, litter picker and wellies or in one case the ultimate in wet weather gear ' the waders'. The challenge didn't look too great. The pond had acquired a variety of new debris, pallets, branches, logs and a broken chair.

A bit of team work, with the waders in the pond and myself on the barrow, and some fairly hard work we soon had the pond looking good again.

There is a definite improvement in the plant life over the last weeks and the water looks clear.

We had a chat with the caretaker of the school next to the site, with a view to keeping the area clear of temptation for our vandals, and hopefully the supply of pallets will no longer be so readily available. Our thanks to him if this works out.
So job done and all looking good!
( Until next time).

Pond survey

Wednesday 17th September was survey day!

The weather was fine and we arrived armed with net and trays, ID books, pH meter and hope. The pond looked good with a healthy water level and the beginnings of plant growth evident on the surface. We measured the size of the pond and took the pH of the water (pH6.7)

The pond is completely shaded by surrounding trees, the majority of which are Ash, but there are Sycamore, Hawthorn and Blackthorn as well. Plants growing around the edge included Arum maculatum ( lords and ladies), Geranium robertinium(herb robert) and Willow herb.

The pond had a partial covering of plant growth, the most prolific species being Callitriche vulgaris (water starwort) along with a small amount of Duckweed.

water starwort

Sampling the water was based on the two mesohabitats, the clear surface water and that covered with plant growth. Although the first clearwater dip yielded very little, just a few daphnia a couple of cyclops and a small worm, we were thrilled that our pond was viable. The second area with the starwort and duckweed present was much better, we found water slater (or hog louse), cyclops, lots of daphnia and a small leech.

A very successful morning ended with a visit from three young men from the adjacent school, obviously visiting their regular smoking haunt. We tried to engage them with what we were doing but after initial curiosity they quickly became more interested in throwing objects into the pond behind our backs.

The ongoing problems we have with vandalism and litter at this site are not going to go away. Confronting the culprits has only stimulated a fresh bout of damage, with the addition of several pallets and lumps of wood in recent days.

To respond to this we are having a pond clearing party this coming Saturday 27th. Sepember. Lets hope the vandals get bored before we do.

From Mud to Pond at Mickleover Meadows

From Mud to Pond in the wettest month you could wish for.

We have water in the pond, perhaps not as much as we would have without the drainage pipes, but now we can get to work to improve all conditions for a healthy natural environment.

Next week we hope to carry out a survey to make a list of wetland plant species present and any macroinvertebrates there may be at this and the Bridge Pond nearby.This with the last survey taken will provide a base line for future surveys which will hopefully show great improvements in biodiversity at this site as improvement work takes place.