I constructed a pond, and the wildlife got here. Watch this to see the wildlife that visited through the first 12 months of the pond at Ash Wooden. No wildlife habitat is full with out water, so once I began a challenge to enhance wildlife visits to an outdated ash woodland, the very first thing I did was dig a pond. I started the challenge in December, when my work was least more likely to disturb breeding birds or animals.
After digging and lining the pond, I positioned rocks across the edge in order that the wildlife may simply climb out and in. Then I fitted cameras to watch the wildlife that visited by way of the seasons. As soon as the pond was prepared, I positioned an owl field in a close-by tree in order that new inhabitants had a water provide they might depend on. Then, as soon as the snows melted, I stuffed the pond.
First guests
Inside only a few days of filling the pond up with water, I noticed the primary guests – fieldfares! Different animals quickly discovered their solution to this new watering gap to wash and drink, together with a buzzard, badgers, and even a passing stoat. However simply because the wildlife acquired used to the spot, a chilly snap turned the water to ice and the animals discovered themselves skating as an alternative of sipping! Amongst them a tawny owl who quickly inspected the owl field close by as potential place to put her eggs.
Spring
As winter gave solution to spring, extra animals got here out in search of meals and water. A feminine roe deer handed by way of, moulting the final of her winter coat, and a pair of mallards popped by for a drink. Within the nest field, tawny owl pair Ozzy & Bonnie had two chicks.
Summer time
In June, the summer time warmth attracted extra birds to the pond. A woodpecker, a sparrowhawk and even the tawny owl, that viewers on my channel named Bonnie, got here to wash. With extra hours of sunshine, I even noticed a badger ingesting in daylight. Seven months after the pond was completed – a summer time drought hit the Yorkshire Wolds and my pond grew to become very important to the encompassing wildlife. A juvenile goshawk even appeared and when a rat wandered by way of, she snatched it up in a single fell swoop. By evening, tawny owl dad and mom Bonnie & Ozzy additionally caught rodents right here and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than my cameras captured the second the 2 tawny chicks, now 10 weeks outdated, visited the pond for the primary time.
Autumn & Winter
Because the leaves fell in autumn, the pond remained a hub of exercise, attracting younger stoats, and wintering bramblings returned from Scandinavia. By December, I had been watching life at this watering gap for a 12 months. It’s had been unimaginable to see the breadth of species coming to drink, bathe and even hunt. And for me, it is simply been superb to create one thing so easy, but so very important, for the wildlife right here – a lifeline by way of the seasons, and a spot they will depend on year-round!
