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POND WORKSHOP REPORT Despite the sunshine outside, the large turnout of 72 people sat fascinated in a darkened village hall on Sunday, May 31. The event was well organised by David German together with Patricia Stainton, SWT Trustee and PNRN’s Acting Chairman. The morning’s speakers were welcomed by SWT’s Michelle Osborne. Her question, “What is a pond?” was answered by a member of the audience as “A hole in the ground with water in it”. This definition would not have been so bald had the same question been asked at the end of the day. The speakers provided not only a mass of useful information but also some quirky facts and suggestions. During her talk on pond plants, Dr Anne Bebbington of the Field Studies Council said that Alma-Tadema’s much-loved Victorian painting “Moses in the Bulrushes” mistakenly depicted reed maces, typha latifolia, rather than the bulrush, scirpus lacustris. This has become the popular perception of the plant. (Authentically A-T should have painted “Moses in the Cyperus Papyrus”.) ~ Dr Bebbington said that the three zones of pond suitable for plants are open water for floating and surface plants; swamp for tall, emergent plants and the margins in which grow the most aesthetically pleasing. She suggested planting native species such as one of her favourites, yellow water lily (arrowhead sagittaria); the rigid hornwort, a useful oxygenator and purple loosestrife which is attractive to insects. In particular she urged avoiding planting invasive aliens such as the New Zealand Pigmyweed which grows up to 20 cms a day.  Beautiful shots of dragonflies illustrating Dr. Mike Parr’s talk included the Red Darter, common to the Somerset Levels, shown in its classic “obelisk position” – pointing straight up to the sun in order to expose less body area to avoid overheating. He said that all dragonflies are carnivorous and they differ from butterflies, beetles and wasps in that they have no resting stage in their development from larva to adult – no chrysalis or pupae. Naughty newts PNR Network’s Paul Newman gave a lively description of courting newts: “Hardly any physical contact, the male comes to the female, arches his back, waves his tail, wafts a pheromone scent - the equivalent of Lynx or Old Spice - so the female goes weak at the knees”. He warned against North American bullfrogs which were introduced in the 1980s as tadpoles advertised as “a curiosity for your pond”. The monstrous adults grow to the size of dinner plates, weigh over 1 lb and emit a deep booming sound. He added that they are “seriously predatory, will kill ducklings and are so aggressive they will hold their ground against dogs”. Freezing is the recommended way of killing. The authorities should be notified of their presence. The Million Ponds Project which will create an extensive network of new ponds across the UK was discussed by Dr. Pascale Nicolet of the Pond Conservation Trust. The first phase of this terrific enterprise aims to produce 5000 clean water ponds by 2012. Landowners are now urged to create a cluster of ponds of varying sizes rather than one single pond so that a more varied habitat is provided for wildlife. Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry…. Among other practical information, Dr Nicolet usefully suggested that islands in ponds for geese, ducks or swans to nest in could be reached across on a bridge below the water level. A normal bridge would provide access for foxes. A question from the audience concerned a small pond, lined with liner and membrane, which had been created two months previously in a meadow of orchids. It was still empty of water. Could it be filled with tap water? No, was the answer, tap water is too full of nutrients. Better to wait for rain water to fill it naturally. More details about pond conservation and the Million Ponds Project can be seen on www.pondconservation.org.uk Photograph: Rebecca Pow
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