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Wildlife helped by pond restoration

Pond restoration by Jasmine Walters

Three ponds at Lower Smite Farm have undergone extensive restoration works to improve habitats for wildlife.

The 150 acre farm, which acts as the operational base for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, is managed with wildlife in mind. With arable fields, woodland and an orchard on site, Lower Smite Farm offers a rich variety of habitats.

The wetland areas on the farm, which consist of two larger ponds, two shallow scrapes and a small pond, are particularly important for amphibians and reptiles, such as great created newts and grass snakes, as well as a range of aquatic species like dragonfly nymphs and water scorpions.

In recent years, however, water levels in the ponds have dropped as the reed cover has increased. It is thought that these changes may have contributed to fewer sightings of frog and toad spawn as well as aquatic invertebrates.

Pond restoration at Lower Smite Farm (https://youtu.be/IxR1hRUnGww)

The restoration project saw amphibious vehicles called Truxors removing much of the reed cover to increase the volume of open water habitat for wildlife. With the ponds being located near the headwaters of the Barbourne Brook, the increased water-holding capacity will also act as natural flood management.

Jasmine Walters, Wildlife and Farming Officer for the Trust, commented “With natural habitats in decline, it is important that we optimise our nature reserves for wildlife. We hope that these works will allow aquatic species to flourish on site.

“To minimise disruption to wildlife, the timing of these works has been vital. At this time of year, amphibians are hibernating on land and birds are not breeding in the vegetation, which means it is the perfect time to manage this habitat.

“To prepare for the works, we undertook various surveys earlier in the year and took the opportunity once birds had finished breeding to remove vegetation from the edges of the two ponds so that there were no suitable places for frogs and toads to hibernate.

“We’ve removed about 70% of the reed cover, increasing the amount of open water available to allow insect life to thrive whilst also ensuring habitat for birds like reed warblers to breed in next year. We’ve created piles nearby with the removed vegetation, which will provide habitat for wildlife including, hopefully, breeding grass snakes.

“The good news is that, just after the works took place and the cold weather took hold, I spotted a common darter dragonfly laying eggs on one of the restored areas. We can’t wait to see how the life here bounces back.”

In addition to benefitting wildlife, these works will also support the Trust’s education team, who regularly use the pond in outdoor learning sessions with school groups.

Two people in high vis clothing and on amphibious vehicles just about visible through a mass of reeds in a pond by Jasmine Walters

Pond restoration begins by Jasmine Walters

Two people in high vis clothing and on amphibious vehicles removing reeds in a pond by Jasmine Walters

Pond restoration by Jasmine Walters

Pond with lots open water and the reeds are limited to the edges by Jasmine Walters

Newly restored pond by Jasmine Walters

The nature trail at Lower Smite Farm takes in both ponds. 

The pond improvements have been made possible with partnership funding. Natural Networks is a partnership project between Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Worcestershire County Council, part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Forestry Commission. The Worcestershire Working with Water project is a Natural Flood Management Project led by Worcestershire County Council with funding from the Regional Flood and Coastal Defence Committee (RFCC) and supported across the county by the Environment Agency.

All funding partners have worked together with the aim of improving and creating habitats for wildlife, as well as offering additional capacity to store water during times of heavy rain.

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