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Margam pond and habitat creation

A local park has recently provided a fantastic opportunity to achieve several objectives;

For the Park;

• Dispense with need for an annual zoo license thus saving money
• Eliminate & remove a significant health and safety risk
• Free up an area to promote conservation and improve habitat for biodiversity

For the visiting public;

• Inspire visitors to create wildlife havens in their own gardens
• Provide an occasional outdoor classroom facility to the children and adults alike that pass through the nearby Field Studies Centre
• Raise awareness regarding biodiversity and conservation matters

For biodiversity;

• Provide fish free wetland habitat for amphibian & odonata species including LBAP species
• Create & provide hibernacula & reptile egg laying sites
• Create terrestrial habitat for amphibian species
• Improve terrestrial habitat for small mammal species
• Eradicate and reduce levels of invasive alien plant life
• Increase levels of indigenous plant life
• Significantly improve habitat to encourage a greater diversity of invertebrate species

So How?

By removing the wild boar from the Park.  The resulting large empty paddock areas will leave a relatively “blank canvass” to develop into a variety of habitats for indigenous wildlife.  The area can become “Model Wildlife Gardens” to inspire the visiting public whilst simultaneously benefiting biodiversity.

One of the former residents

Pig sties

Once demolished, the resulting rubble from the pig sties can be combined with logs and excavated earth from the ponds to create hibernacula.

 Ponds 

Studies have revealed that a series of ponds of varying capacity and depth are of greater benefit to biodiversity than a single large pond. – Does size matter? (Oertli et al 2002)  A contractor has been sourced to undertake the excavation of a series of small ponds varying in size and depth to provide maximum benefit to as diverse a range of species as possible.     

Site prior to pond excavation

Birds

  Close by, it is intended to create a bird feeding area and plant hawthorn hedges, arable crops and seed heads bearing plants such as teasel.  This habitat will be created at an adjoining area formerly used as a “Pet’s corner”. 

Existing standing water

Running the length of the pet’s corner area, and a stone’s throw away from the wild boar paddock is a sizeable water filled ditch.  This was previously utilised by the domestic ducks that were part of the pet’s corner display.   The numbers of ducks present and resulting high nutrient levels had caused the algae levels to bloom giving a “pea soup” effect to the water.   The ducks have been gone for some months now and West Glamorgan ARG will devote its attention to refurbishing and improving this potentially valuable habitat for biodiversity.  At this stage it is unsure whether fish may be present in the ditch.

Visitors

Will be guided through the area by means of a circular walk, consisting in places of boardwalk.  The route will connect with the pond systems in two places where pond-dipping platforms will be provided.  However, the majority of the wetland and pond areas will remain a “look but don’t touch” area as the route will avoid sensitive areas and allow the wildlife to reproduce relatively undisturbed.

Interpretation boards will be provided with explanations of species present, the different habitats, as well as explanations of how hibernacula and habitat piles are created to inspire the public to do the same where possible.

Potential benefits for Herpetofauna in particular

There are many.  

1. Although there are many existing larger freshwater bodies in the Park already, none of them are fish free.   Toads breed well in the fishponds, (fish are more likely to find toad tadpoles distasteful) but frogs do not fare so well in the Park.   The provision of shallow fish free areas at the wild boar paddock area will provide much needed breeding areas for frogs.
2. Palmate newts breed in noticeable numbers in a small formal lily pond in the park, and will undoubtedly take advantage of the new pond system.
3. Although there are no breeding records of Great Crested newts in the Park, occasional alleged nocturnal terrestrial sightings do occur.  However, a breeding population is known a very short distance away from the park.  It is hoped that the provision of two deeper fish free ponds in the former wild boar paddock may encourage natural recolonization.  If the main road is too much of a barrier, then there is the option to consult with CCW and HCT with regard to a possible reintroduction programme.
4. Grass snakes are under increasing pressure in the park.  Providing breeding facilities for amphibians will provide increased feeding opportunities for the grass snake population.   In addition, south-facing banks & hibernacula will be created as well as egg laying sites.  This will hopefully provide a rare opportunity for a “one stop shop” for grass snakes.

Work will hopefully begin with the aim of ponds being in place in time for the approaching amphibian-breeding season.

Additional target beneficiary species

During the spring and summer of 2008, Peter Hill has recorded a total of 5 species of Damselfly and 11 species of Dragonfly in the Park.  Whilst at least two of the species require flowing well-oxygenated water for breeding purposes, the majority of the species resident will no doubt make use of the intended fish free ponds for breeding.

Consideration will also be given to the habitat requirements of water voles when working on the project, especially with regard to the existing standing water ditch that exists between the wild boar paddock and the pet’s corner area.  Although it would appear that none are present, whilst the work is being undertaken anyway, water vole habitat requirements will be implemented should the situation ever change in the future.  Dr Dan Forman of the Conservation Ecology Research Team Swansea will be offering guidance in this regard.

Partners;

• The management & Staff of Margam Park
• Mentro Allan, Neath Port Talbot
• CCW
• BTCV Cymru
• The Friends of Margam
• The Youth Offending Team
• NPTCBC Biodiversity unit

Support and Guidance gratefully received from;

• HCT
• CERTs
• ARGUK
• Ian Smith (Welsh Dragonflies)

Funders;

• CCW

Contractors used;

• Streetwise

Project Diary;

December 15th

Wild boar vacated paddock.

December 18th

Mentro Allan and the Neath Port Talbot Youth Offending team assisted Peter Hill in demolishing the pig sties.   The rubble will be used as the basis for hibernacula and the corrugated tin sheets that formed the roofs will be used as refugia in future West Glamorgan ARG survey work.

December 22nd

Contractors began pond excavation and Rhododendron clearance.

December 23rd

Contractors continued pond excavation and Rhododendron clearance.
Clay was discovered during excavation, and it may well be the case that the newly excavated ponds will hold water without the need for a liner.

Four of the newly excavated ponds. The pond in the fore ground is one of the deepest. The other ponds are a lot shallower, intended to attract common frogs.

A second deeper pond designed with great crested newts in mind.