Donal Hickey: Handy info here if you're planning to dig and manage a pond
Importance of ponds for wildlife — info from An Taisce
Latest news from the Burrenbeo Trust, in County Clare, is that the Hare’s Corner initiative is growing apace. The idea is to dedicate a section of unproductive farmland to nature.
Forty ponds are currently being dug and visits by ecologists to 60 sites are continuing. Offering free advice and materials, the commendable project is now being extended to Mayo and Carlow.
Most experts agree that habitat loss is the main cause of decline in Ireland’s wildlife, which has intensified in recent decades. This decline is most apparent in wetlands.
Creatures living in both land and water — such as frogs, toads and newts — are highly vulnerable to environmental threats.
Separately, An Taisce’s Legacy 4Life Ponds for Biodiversity projects aims to promote a countrywide pond network to help reverse nature loss, counter climate change, and offer opportunities for recreation, education and carbon storage.
As well as being wildlife refuges, ponds could help with flood control and tackle pollution. According to An Taisce, ponds hold more biodiversity than rivers and lakes.
At a recent An Taisce workshop, in Galway, held in conjunction with the city council, the council’s biodiversity officer, Paula Kearney, said that more than 50% of wetlands occupied by creatures like frogs had been lost to drainage, industrial peat-cutting, and pollution in the past century.
The most recent EPA report found no significant improvement in water quality in our rivers and lakes, in 2022, with nutrient levels from farming, sewage, and forestry far too high. Estuaries, including the Glashaboy estuary, in Cork, are particularly sensitive.
No surprise, therefore, that Ms Kearney said there is more biodiversity in ponds, especially damselflies, dragonflies, beetle species, frogs, and newts.
Ireland has more than 12,000 small, enclosed waterbodies, with 8,000 measuring less than a hectare.
Meanwhile, the Hare’s Corner project, which could be usefully expanded countrywide, embraces far more than ponds. It also includes small woodlands and orchards.
It has already supported the planting of 90 mini-woodlands, 50 wildlife ponds, 106 mini-orchards and 30 professionally-produced plans for nature for farmers.
The aim is to have a simple, hassle-free way to support farmers in dealing with the climate and biodiversity crisis. Community groups can also take part.
Pranjali Bhave, Burrenbeo project co-ordinator, said: “The level of interest we have seen in this initiative gives us great hope on what can be achieved by people on the ground with just a small amount of support. The impact of the project, so far, in terms of benefits and the wellbeing of people across Clare, who have benefited, is amazing."
Materials, including trees, small-scale funding for machinery for pond-digging, for example, and professional visits and advice on plans are provided free-of-charge to farmers and landowners.
