great crested newt - male

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

The variety of life

The Pondways Project

The Trust is all set to lead an exciting new Avon Biodiversity Partnership project to survey local ponds and great crested newts.

This two year project, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, begins in January and aims to raise awareness within local communities of the wildlife on their doorstep. Ponds are a valuable part of our heritage and culture, often forming a visual focus in the landscape and an important amenity for many people and can greatly enhance the character of a local area. They can provide an opportunity for school groups and communities to come closer to their natural heritage, to learn about their environment, get actively engaged in its management and care, and thus become more connected with it. Traditionally, ponds have formed part of a network, with several ponds set within a mosaic of connected wild habitat including hedges, rough grassland and meadow.

Great crested newts – a flagship species
Britain’s most strictly protected amphibian, the great crested newt, relies on just such a network of ponds and good quality terrestrial habitat. Pond networks provide an important haven for many other species and also provide feeding and watering sites and the presence of great crested newts is an excellent indicator of the value of a pond to a wide range of species. Unfortunately, pond networks have been systematically removed from our countryside and towns over the past century due to agricultural intensification and development, and this has resulted in a marked decline in great crested newts. The loss of pond networks and the decline in this flagship specie is inextricably linked.

From survey work carried out in 2004 by Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC) there is some information available about the status of ponds and distribution of great crested newts in Avon. In the 2004 survey, many ponds were found to be drying out and in need of restoration However, many ponds remain unsurveyed and great crested newts are thought to be under-recorded in the Avon area.

Despite its decline, the British population of newts is amongst the largest in Europe, where it is threatened in several countries. This means that we have an enhanced responsibility to protect this species. The great crested newt is a priority species in the Avon, and the UK Biodiversity Action Plans and also in the Unitary Authority BAPs in the Avon area. Ponds do not currently have priority habitat status, but it is hoped that they will gain it shortly.

The Good News
The Pondways Project iS aimed at involving people and their communities in pond conservation through a programme of training in surveying pond networks on public land in Avon. This survey work will give us greater understanding of the status of ponds in Avon, and where necessary will lead us to take action to conserve our landscape heritage, which is important both for local people and the character of the West Country..

The grant will be spent on employing a part-time project officer to co-ordinate a pond survey programme, provide training for volunteer surveyors, and to raise awareness of pond conservation and historic significance. The Avon Reptile and Amphibian group (ARAG) is a local volunteer group interested in surveying for newts, amongst other amphibians. This group will act as the key mechanism for volunteers to engage in survey and monitoring work and volunteers will be trained in survey techniques.

Data will be available to all via a project website, the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC), National Biodiversity Network (NBN), National Pond Monitoring Network and local information panels. This project will go some way to ensuring that Avon’s pond heritage, the species that depends on it, and the surrounding landscape is conserved and enhanced for the local community to enjoy.