Ten beautiful dew ponds supporting hundreds of plant and animal species have been restored in the South Downs National Park, all thanks to an innovative partnership with the South Downs Trust.
These water sources are the first round to be completed from the Pounds for Ponds initiative run by South Downs Trust.
Jointly funded by BMW UK through National Parks Partnerships (NPP) the project has benefitted from £65,000 over 3 years to restore a network of dew ponds across the South Downs.
National Parks Partnerships represents all 15 of the UK National Parks and brings together companies, investors and environmental funders at a national level. In this case the corporate partnership is with BMW UK who have been directly supporting locally-led projects such as Pounds for Ponds through their Recharge in Nature fund.
Dew ponds were historically used for watering livestock in the South Downs, but were then abandoned and fell into disrepair when other sources of water were found. These biodiverse water bodies are now being rediscovered and restored as important oases for nature and links between habitats.
The ten recently completed ponds are distributed across the National Park with some on farm and private land and others on nature reserves.
Magdalen Hill Down Dew Pond
In the west near Winchester, the new pond at Magdalen Hill Down, the flagship site of Butterfly Conservation in Hampshire is already attracting lots of wildlife. A recent survey included whirlygig and great diving beetles, the larvae of dragonfly and damselfly along with water boatmen and pond skaters. A great varied list as the pond was completed less than a year ago.
Butterfly Conservation’s site manager at Magdalen Hill Down, Fiona Scully, said:
“The new pond here will increase biodiversity and add an attractive feature for visitors to enjoy as well as offering engagement opportunities through pond-dipping activity. It will provide a link for wildlife to other ponds in the farmed landscape and within neighbouring reserves”
Seven Sisters Foxhole and New Barn Dew Ponds
In the east near Eastbourne, two ponds have been completed at Foxhole and New Barn in Seven Sisters Country Park. Both will provide a valuable sustainable fresh water source in the Country Park, where until now there has been little open fresh water. The cascading effects of these waterholes on biodiversity will be valuable, particularly for birds and wildlife in the dry summer months.
The Foxhole pond includes a dipping platform, designed to allow families and school groups to look for pond life. With Seven Sisters Country Park receiving approximately a million visitors a year, these ponds, including the platform present a huge opportunity for education and learning alongside biodiversity.
More ponds are being completed each year. For more information about Pounds for Ponds, please visit – southdownstrust.org.uk/pounds-for-ponds/
