Vital new ponds have been created in Brecknock thanks to funding and support from the Million Ponds Project and Biffaward.

A grant of £1250 from the Pond Digging Fund has enabled one smallholder to dig 4 new clean water ponds. A staggering 80% of ponds in the countryside are in poor or very poor condition, so it is very important that new clean water ponds such as these are created, giving the hundreds of species that depend on ponds a fighting chance. The new ponds near Brecon have been designed to provide breeding habitat for frogs and newts (hopefully great crested). It is hoped that these will attract foraging otters and grass snakes as well as a host of other creatures. When digging the main ponds field drains were found which explains why the marshy vegetation was not very extensive with intrusions of species poor soft rush pasture. By creating ponds with shallow edges and water levels that draw down naturally during dry spells, the area will develop a larger and more diverse wetland.

The Million Ponds Project has been very helpful to the Wildlife Trust providing a comprehensive "pond creation toolkit" which has been helpful when advising owners about pond creation. It has also provided training days and targeted funding for ponds creation which has allowed many landowners to realise their pond creation dreams!

Creating clean water ponds that will develop into rich wildlife hotspots is relatively straight forward, as long as you adhere to three key criteria: 1) ponds need a clean water source, free from fertilisers, pesticides, run-off from roads, leaky septic tanks or run-off from intensive agriculture; 2) ponds need to be left to colonise naturally, without the addition of plants and animals; 3) ponds need to be left to thrive without undue disturbance.

The site near Brecon was ideal because the water runs off unfertilised grassland, (currently in wildflower meadow reversion), so will be clean. The pond will be left to colonise naturally and will only be disturbed by occasional light grazing. We look forward to watching its development over the next few years.

Thanks to Biffaward for providing the funds that have made this work possible.

The project has been funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.