Durham Biodiversity Partnership – Living Ponds

This is a multi-site project that will begin to reverse the long-term trend of pond loss and degradation that has occurred across the Durham BAP area. Pond losses have been due to land drainage, increased pollution, changes in agricultural practices, and increased urban development. In addition, many remaining ponds are in a poor ecological condition, and no longer provide clean water habitat. Existing ponds are also increasingly vulnerable from a lack of connectivity and isolation.The project will create new high value ponds, both for landscape connectivity and to buffer existing ponds with BAP species present, and restore ecological condition of existing ponds that are currently degraded. This will benefit metapopulations of freshwater invertebrates, amphibians, birds, bats, water voles, and otters.