The Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA) is working
in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council and 29 other
organisations to protect and encourage wildlife in North Lanarkshire.
The Local Biodiversity Action
Partnership (LBAP) would like to help
the community enjoy the wildlife that is on their doorstep by
giving
practical ideas to encourage wildlife to visit their gardens.
This month we are asking you
to consider introducing water to your
garden, preferably by digging a pond or, if you can't manage that,
by
putting in a birdbath. This is the ideal month to create a pond
for your garden, as plants will have plenty of time to become
established. If you
don't manage to get it done this month, don't worry, you can still
dig a
pond right up to the end of May and it should become quite well
established this season.
Why is it helpful to wildlife
to have water in your garden?
The presence of water will immediately attract new wildlife to
your garden. As well as being a source of drinking water for birds
and mammals, a pond will provide a place for acquatic invertebrates
(pond skaters and beetles)
and amphibians (frogs, toads and newts) to live.
Ponds are often very rich habitats
and can support at least as many
invertebrate species as rivers, and often considerably more of
the rarer
species, especially beetles. To increase the biodiversity of your
garden,
SEPA and the partners are keen to promote the establishment of
ponds.
In order to achieve this, you should follow a few simple guidelines.
1. Chose your site carefully
--
it will influence the type of pond you create. A mixture of sun
and shade is best, but think about the surrounding area as well.
Leave some grass at the edge to grow long and dip into the water
as the floating leaves will provide cover for invertebrates and
form an ideal egg-laying structure for newts. Piles of leaves,
rocks and logs nearby will provide cover and essential refuges
for hibernating animals.
2. Put in a good range of plants.
A mixture of submerged, floating-leaved
edge and marsh plants will provide a variety of habitats and will
encourage
a wide range of pond animals. They also use up nutrients in the
water
and thus avoid algal blooms. It is important that you use native
and, if
possible, local plants. Your local Wildlife Trust may be able
to recommend
suitable sources . Avoid exotic plants, especially New Zealand
water stonecrop (crassula helmsii), water fern (Azolla filiculoides)
and parrot's
feather (Miriophyllum aquaticum) as they are extremely invasive
and may smother your pond, causing other plants to disappear.
3. Keep fish out. Fish eat invertebrates and
juvenile amphibians, so for maximum diversity in wildlife species,
they should be excluded from your
pond.
As natural ponds disappear through being filled
in or drained, or are
affected by pollution , garden ponds become ever more important
in
providing an essential habitat for wildlife everywhere, especially
in urban
areas, In fact, they now represent about a fifth of pond-shallows
habitat
in Britain. So with a bit of effort initially, you can do a lot
to help wildlife
in your community and enjoy the pleasures of a pond for years
to come.
To help increase awareness
for wildlife within the community, the LBAP
will be organising regular competitions to win super prizes, generously
donated by B & Q Stores. The competition last month proved
to be popular
and the winners are soon to be announced. This month the prizes
include
water buts and birdbaths, so if you can answer the following question
correctly, send your entry now.
Ponds can especially support
which type of rare invertebrate species?
Send your answer on a postcard
to SEPA, Southwest Ecology unit,
5 redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PP. The closing
date
for entries is Friday, April 12, 2002. Further details can also
be obtained
by contacting SEPA on 01355 574200.
