A national wildlife conservation charity is asking ‘citizen scientists’ to identify priority ponds that could be home to plants and animals vital to a healthy ecosystem.
It hopes this will help local authorities understand more about the most important ponds in their areas and the vital role they play in supporting local wildlife.
Only around two per cent of priority habitats in the UK have been identified, so Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) is asking for help to identify the highest-quality water spaces for freshwater wildlife.
Priority ponds are often the last refuge for plants and animals that have been lost from surrounding areas, and this designation can help preserve ponds threatened by proposed construction and other landscape changes.
A FHT spokesperson said: “Many priority ponds are not recorded. So far, fewer than two per cent of ponds in the UK have been identified as priority habitats, but experts believe the total is likely to exceed 20 per cent.
“These ponds are an important part of England’s freshwater environment and often provide a last refuge for sensitive and uncommon freshwater plants and animals that have been lost from surrounding areas.
“That is why Freshwater Habitats Trust is working with Natural England to identify more of these important habitats,” they said.
A Bedford borough spokesperson said: “We are working with Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy which may consider the importance of ponds as priority habitats, but this is work in progress.
“The biodiversity value of ponds would also be a consideration when determining planning applications especially now that securing a 10% biodiversity net gain is a statutory requirement.”
The FHT spokesperson added: “In addition to our priority ponds project, we are providing local authorities with guidance on how to include small freshwater habitats in their Local Nature Recovery Strategies.”
More information on the priority pond assessment survey (Pass) can be found on the FHT’s website.
Assessments can be carried out until early October and the findings can then be confirmed through more detailed biological surveys.
The priority pond survey is not designed for garden ponds.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
