Gardens Ponds

Associated Species

Amphibians

Great crested newt

Associated Habitat action plans

Buildings and the built environment

Urban 'wasteland'

Gardens, parks, allotments and public open space

Garden ponds are artificially created for aesthetic and ornamental reasons, generally small in size (less than 4 m²) and often constructed from a variety of materials including concrete, plastic and butyl rubber. The water is generally derived from rain and tapwater. As a habitat, garden ponds show great variation from a pool of water with goldfish and little else to a habitat supporting a great diversity of plants and invertebrates and high populations of amphibians.

The number and proportion of gardens with ponds is not known, but pond creation is becoming increasingly popular.

Ponds may support submerged aquatic plants e.g. Canadian pondweed Elodea canadensis and Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum, floating leaved plants e.g. water lilies and duckweed Lemna minor and emergent plants e.g. yellow flag Iris pseudacorus and water mint Mentha aquatica. Unicellular and filamentous algae may also be a feature of many ponds. Exotic plants may be present. Plants may be introduced from commercial suppliers, from other ponds or from natural sources. Plants may also colonise through other agents e.g. birds and amphibians.

Invertebrate life may be abundant and diverse. Snails, damselflies, dragonflies, water beetles and crustaceans may be found. Invertebrates may be introduced deliberately or with pond vegetation. However given the efficient dispersal mechanisms of many freshwater invertebrates, colonisation may begin within an hour of a pond's creation.

Ponds may support fish, usually goldfish and other ornamental species but sticklebacks may also be present.

Garden ponds are now important breeding habitats for common newts and common frogs. Larger ponds may support breeding populations of toads or great crested newts.

Garden ponds are an artificially created habitat situated within an artificially created landscape. Factors affecting the habitat relate primarily to location, design, construction and management.

2.1 Social factors

Fashions in leisure activities vary over time. There currently appears to be a resurgence of interest in garden design. 'Water features', notably ponds, figure prominently in many such designs although the degree to which they support wildlife varies greatly.

2.2 Adjacent land use

The habitat surrounding the pond may influence its ecology, in particular, garden size, garden management practices and the location and extent of other garden ponds.

2.3 Pond Design

Location - surrounding trees, shading
Size - the larger ponds, the greater the number of species it may attract and support
Shape - shallow sloping edges allow vertebrates to escape, shelves provide depth variation for different plant species, a minimum depth of 60 cm allows the pond to freeze in winter without affecting hibernating frogs.
Materials - plastic and rubber allow for greater variation in pond design than preformed plastic moulds. Concrete is also flexible in terms of design but may crack.
Introduction of plants and animals - a number of exotic plants introduced by the garden trade, although perfectly adequate for an intensively managed ornamental pond, have become invasive when people inadvertently put surplus plants into more natural ponds. Goldfish and water snails are commonly introduced to ponds.

2.4 Management

Without management, garden ponds would undergo succession to marshland and then to dry land. Garden ponds generally need topping up with water. If the tap water supply has high levels of nutrients e.g. nitrates, this may affect the ecology of the pond. Management of the surrounding garden influences the pond ecology e.g. providing dark damp places for newts to hibernate, encouraging insect life for frogs and dragonflies to feed etc. The value of the garden pond as a habitat for wildlife is intimately related to the management of the surrounding garden(s). Run-off of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers may have a negative impact on the ecology of the pond.

3.1 Legal status

Under the Environment Act, 1995, the Environment Agency (EA) has a duty generally to promote the conservation of aquatic flora and fauna, so far as they consider it desirable, but it is unlikely that the EA can influence the nature of ponds in private gardens.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) the unlicensed release to the wild of non-resident alien animals, some established alien animals (including European pond terrapin and certain species of amphibia, fish and crayfish) and some plants is prohibited.

3.2 Management, research and guidance

3.2.1 Management - Currently much published advice exists on the management of garden ponds for wildlife.

3.2.2 Status of garden ponds in Birmingham and the Black Country - The Birmingham Pond survey (see Reference) has provided information on the high conservation value of garden ponds- the following points can be highlighted:

Ponds with the greatest variety of plants have the greatest range of animal life.
Ponds good for frogs appear also to be good for newts.
The presence of fish does not have a negative effect of the presence of frogs or newts.

A similar survey should be carried out in the Black Country.

3.2.3 Garden Pond Ecology - The Birmingham Pond Survey and similar surveys carried out in the London Boroughs of Richmond and Merton have given general information on garden pond ecology. Recent research has contributed greatly to our understanding of the ecology of 'natural' ponds but little is currently known of the ecology of garden ponds.

OBJECTIVE	TARGET
To encourage dissemination of information regarding pond creation and management.	Ongoing
To develop research into garden pond ecology e.g. diversity and associated parameters.	Ongoing
The creation of ponds for wildlife display open to the public to demonstrate a range of best practices.	2003
Promotion of garden ponds as an important habitat for wildlife in the national context as well as a focus for wildlife within the garden.	Ongoing

ACTION	Potential Deliverers		YEARS							Meets Objective No.
ACTION	Lead	Partner	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2011	Meets Objective No.
5.1 Policy and legislation	None
5.2 Pond safeguard and management
Contribute to the implementation of relevant priority species action plans for rare and declining species associated with garden ponds	WT	LA, EN, EA								1,2
Prepare management strategies for garden ponds to implement different objectives (e.g. frogs, invertebrate diversity, etc.).	WT									1,2
5.3 Advice
Provide advice for public via media and at appropriate gardening related venues about value and management of garden ponds for biodiversity.	WT	LA, EN, EA								1,4
Promote the interchange of information between the UK and other countries on management techniques, conservation and research relevant to garden ponds	WT									1,2
5.4 Future research and monitoring
Develop research into the biodiversity of garden ponds particularly the implications of different management techniques for garden pond diversity	WT	EN, EA								2
Extend the Birmingham Pond Survey to cover the Black Country	WT									2,4
Contribute information to a Web based catalogue of survey information on ponds in general	WT									1
Encourage community and educational involvement in monitoring acitivities e.g. extension of Birmingham Pond Survey to include monitoring	WT									2
Set up group to co-ordinate plan implementation, monitor and rport to Steering Group	WT	Other orgs.
5.5 Communications and publicity
Ensure that information on garden ponds (research, management advice, gaps in knowledge) is available at all levels	WT									1,4
To increase public awareness and knowledge of the value of garden ponds, develop a series of demonstration ponds	WT	EA, LA, Others orgs.								1,3
5.7 Links to other action plans
Amphibians, great crested newt, urban 'wasteland', gardens, allotments, parks and public open space, buildings and the built environment	LA	WT

This Biodiversity Action Plan will be implemented over 10 years with a first review after 5 years. A group will be set up to co-ordinate implementation and to report to the Biodiversity Steering Group. This group will meet at a minimum on a yearly basis.

Review will be carried out in conjunction with related Habitat and Species Action Plans as appropriate.

Review will consist of measuring achievement of targets. The group will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop and implement appropriate monitoring methods which will inform the review process.

The Action Plan will be revised and updated in the light of review results and any relevant changes in circumstances and/or additional information which becomes available during the review period.

In line with national guidance, the Steering Group will report to the UK Steering Group.

Wyatt, N. (1998) The Birmingham Pond Survey, Urban Wildlife Trust, Birmingham City Council. Available from the Urban Wildlife Trust.

Printing of this publication for educational purposes is permitted, provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial gain, and the title of the publication and its date appear. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires specific permission from the Steering Group.