Earlier this year Kate Humble launched a new pond and wetland area at Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt in Northern Ireland, as part of the BBC Breathing Places campaign.
The pond was created by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) with help from the school.
Becca Cleaver from Pond Conservation was asked to give advice on the best design and materials to encourage wildlife.
Becca says ‘The school and FWAG NI wanted to create a pond on an area of ground next to a stream. The pond would be used by pupils for pond dipping, and would have to be accessible and safe to use. Instead of just one pond, a series of pools were created. This would provide a wider range of conditions, encouraging a wider range of wildlife, and mean that some areas could be left undisturbed by pond dipping activities.'
The pond was lined with a geosythetic clay liner, and shaped to have gentle slopes and an undulating profile. A platform was installed to allow pupils to get close to the water and carry out their studies, and a path around the pond was made firm and safe in all conditions with a firm plastic grid that turf can grow through.
Sean Convery from FWAG says 'we found this to be a most rewarding project. An entire school and the communtiy attached to it, are now seeing the benfits of biodiversity on their doorstep and in the classrooms. The first 'dips' will take place this autumn but it is the spring when we expect to see the ponds come to life.'
