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.