At the very end of 2010, we were extremely excited to be awarded a grant by The Big Lottery Fund under its scheme for projects specifically related to Community Wildlife projects.
The integrated plan for the site always included a space for a large wildlife pond in what was an otherwise unusable, boggy area, as well as an area managed for wildflowers. Now we had the funding to make these plans a reality!
The additional wildlife focus will further enhance the allotments and our community orchard, and generally increase the amenity value of the site.
In Summer 2011, specialist contractors dug out a huge pond, with deep and shallow areas to meet the needs of different types of plant and animal life.
The pond was planted with a range of aquatic species in 2013, and rapidly attracted an exciting range of newts, damselflies and dragonflies. Herons, ducks and geese, as well as pied and grey wagtails, have also been sighted.
The dragonflies laid many eggs and we are looking forward to seeing what emerges this year, as the habitat for creatures develops.