Nothing in farming gives us FWAG Advisers goose bumps more than restoring ghost ponds (except perhaps combines. We all love a combine!).
This was a particularly exciting project to work on as it was at the trailblazing Spains Hall Estate in Essex where so many new and wonderful things are happening these days from agroforestry to beavers and BNG. So we just had to find a way to record it and share it with you!
We worked with estate ecologist Sarah Brockless to restore two overgrown ponds here this winter and couldn't wait for the weather to dry up so we could get our hands on the old ghost pond lurking beneath an arable field next to one of the newly restored ponds.
You never know what you are going to find when you restore a ghost pond and one of the real thrills is seeing these ponds bounce back to life from the seed bank which usually still lies in the old pond sediments buried beneath arable fields.
So take a look at our little video below and then why not try and hunt for some ghost ponds on your patch? The Side-by-Side Map Viewer is a great way to get started and UCL and FHT have produced a fantastic Guide to the Restoration, Creation and Management of Ponds to steer you through the process. And of course your FWAG advisers are always happy to help.
Enjoy the video - and the goose bumps!
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