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.