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Here are some of the new ponds being built with our pond starter kits. We have 4 kits left. If you are a resident of the 4Bs and you would like one, please email Simon Fellows who is leading our pond for nature campaign. [email protected]
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It's always a privelage to listen to someone who is more knowledgeable than we are and to learn from them. Local ecologist Pauk Ritchie has become a regular contributor to our events and his well illustrated talk on ponds provided an opportunity to learn from his experience and for our nature loving community to come together. 4B residents Kevin Clarke and Suzy Stevens shared their experiences of making and maintaining wildlife ponds and provided a lot of encouragement to just have a go. Their key message - if you put in the effort you will help wildlife and be rewarded for your efforts. In addition to the talk several participants collected their Pond Starter Kits and one generous resident donated around 50 water lily tubers to the ponds for nature campaign. The event was abley compared by Simon Fellowes and well supported by members of the 4Bs biodiversity initiative team. A recording of the talk is provided below.
Perhaps we think that most of the ponds we see are natural. But this is not the case. Most, if not all of the significant ponds in the 4Bs landscape were not formed by natural processes. They have been constructed by people at different points in time for different purposes. Historically, the pond-scape of the 4Bs is the result of contributions from 5 different sources -1) industrial processes – milling, sand extraction and quarrying 2) the landscaping of estates during Georgian, Victorian and modern times 3) the mitigation of flooding in and around the river Mole 4) farming 5) the ponds that residents install in their own gardens and retained from one owner to another. The most important natural influences on the distribution of ponds in the 4Bs are: 1) the River Mole and its tributaries and drainage system and 2) the geology and mining – sand extraction from the Lower Greensand near Buckland has resulted in significant depressions within the aquifer which have filled with water. Figure 1 shows the more significant ponds in the landscape i.e. ponds that are visible on maps and Google Earth. Figure 1 attempts to categorise the ponds and, where possible, date them. Figure 1 Significant ponds and lakes in the 4Bs This is the first version and it will evolve as more information is added. Please help us improve the information on it. Send comments to [email protected]  4Bs Resident Pond Survey We are keen to expand our knowledge of garden ponds in the 4Bs if you livein Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham or Boxhill and you would like to contribute to our resident survey click here Norman Jackson is the coordinator of the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative  In 2012 I moved in to my property in Brockham and discovered a geologically improbable stone cairn from the top of which emerged a fountain!  In 2015 I replaced the improbable stone cairn with a water feature with 5 leaves. It was used for drinking and bathing by blue tits and other birds, which I sometimes catch queuing up with face flannels, bars of soap and towels tucked under their wings.  In March 2025 the cobbles and metal grid cover were removed to expose the black butyl liner of what had been the reservoir for the water feature. I’m passionate about hedgehogs and there is a permanent ‘infestation’ of hedgehogs in my garden, so a hedgehog escape ramp was quickly installed!  In June 2025 the pond was planted with a range of floating and oxygenating plants which grew well in the warm weather. Watercress was planted later and first harvested in October. One water beetle and Daphnia infestation so far but I remain optimistic. Richard Selley is a resident of Brockham and President of the Mole Valley Geological Society. He is a self-declared fan of hedgehogs and runs a mailist on their behalf under the nom de plume 'hog whisperer'.
I was one of the lucky people who received a free pond starter kit in 2024 and I would like to share my experiences. Why do I have a pond? This is something I’d had in mind for the past few years but did nothing until inspired by the gardening for biodiversity talk in Buckland in June 2024. How did I select the location? I’d read that the more sun the better and knowing how many leaves fall from my trees I decided to put it in the middle of the garden. The preferred position would allow it to be observed from the house but I’d already converted most of the lawn to a meadow (it’s just a wildflower area really!) which partly blocks the view from the house. How was the hole dug? By me with just a spade. I started in July 2024 but the ground was too hard. I resumed in September but by late October it became too cold (for my poor hands!), so I did nothing more until March 2025. One advantage of having the liner down by October is that the pond filled with rainwater over the winter. What shape is the pond? Roughly circular with a stoney ramp to the wildlife corridor. The centre of the pond is over 0.5m deep with a ledge about 0.25m deep; the diameter is about 2m. The wildlife corridor joins it long grass and shrubs. What happened to the turf and spoil? The turf went around the pond to create a bee bank (turf on top of some building sand). The spoil was scattered around the garden. It’s only have a small garden but managed to recycle everything.  How much did it cost me? Absolutely nothing! The liner and most of the plants were courtesy of the 4B’s gardening for biodiversity. If I had bought these it would have cost me around £40. Pots and aquatic compost came from another 4Bs enthusiast. The surround is rocks that I’ve collected over the past few years (yes, I had a pond in mind for ages!). A few plants have been added and these have been family gifts (I thankfully have a birthday in March!). Freecyle was also a good source! Any wildlife so far? The pond has proved very popular with cats and birds looking for a drink. Of course, the cats aren’t wild but they act like it in my garden! As soon as I added tall flag irises then dragonflies were attracted.There might be a few tiny beasties that over-wintered in the deep section but maybe there’ll be more when word gets around that there’s free accommodation on offer! I put a boulder in the deep section, and together with lots of sunken leaves, this is a perfect combination for hibernation apparently.  What have I learnt? Because I was eager to finish in 2024, I didn’t dig as deep as I wanted and cut the liner too soon. I should have planned the position for the pond before creating the wildflower patch. The amount of evaporation was overlooked in warmer months - this year has been particulary dry and hot. This is reduced by having murky water and minimising the amount of water surface (eg floating lilies are a good idea). I overlooked the need to oxygenate the water but several yellow flag irises are remedying that. I forgot to get a blanket to underlie the liner, so instead I used a lot of towels beneath the liner (to stop sharp stones puncturing it) – I’m sure professionals use bedding sand! Now it is established I have enjoyed contemplating my small wildlife pond. I can honestly say that the benefits to me and to wildlife, far exceed the time, effort and cost in building one. Kevin Clarke is an active member of the 4Bs Nature Group and a recent recruit to the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative Team  A healthy pond is a living ecosystem and, in the UK, ponds go through a cycle each year that reflects the seasonal changes. These changes affect water temperature, water levels, plant growth, animal behaviour, and overall ecology- the way living and non-living things interact with and depend on each other. Here’s a breakdown of what typically happens in a temperate climate like the UK. Spring
Norman Jackson is the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative team leader  |
4Bs Nature Group BlogThis blog is maintained by the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative Team. Its purpose is to provide brief updates of activities and encourage the sharing of experiences and learning. We welcome guests and contributions from members of the 4Bs WhatsApp Nature Group and wider community. To contribute a post please email the editor at biodiversityinititiative1 @gmail.com PagesArchives
October 2025
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