4Bs Watery Habitats :
Ponds, Lakes, Streams, Ditches & Wetalnds
Ponds, Lakes, Streams, Ditches & Wetalnds
Our Water
Water is the foundation of all ecosystems, life processes and the biodiversity of our planet. Water connects every living thing. Without water there is no life. We cherish the verdant nature of the 4Bs - the green and pleasant land we call the 4Bs. But this fertile, vibrant landscape is mainly the result of the abundant rainfall we receive. This year we have received far less rain than usual: one of the driest spring/summers on record. and we have witnessed the drying up of ponds, streams, ditches and wetland areas with detrimental impacts on the plants and animals that depend on these natural sources of water. According to the SES rainfall monitoring station in Redhill, we have had significantly less than average rainfall ifor much of 2025. Only January and July exceeded the average. As climate change becomes more pronounced the frequency of dry summers is likely to increase.
SES Rainfall chart for Redhill
Water is the foundation of all ecosystems, life processes and the biodiversity of our planet. Water connects every living thing. Without water there is no life. We cherish the verdant nature of the 4Bs - the green and pleasant land we call the 4Bs. But this fertile, vibrant landscape is mainly the result of the abundant rainfall we receive. This year we have received far less rain than usual: one of the driest spring/summers on record. and we have witnessed the drying up of ponds, streams, ditches and wetland areas with detrimental impacts on the plants and animals that depend on these natural sources of water. According to the SES rainfall monitoring station in Redhill, we have had significantly less than average rainfall ifor much of 2025. Only January and July exceeded the average. As climate change becomes more pronounced the frequency of dry summers is likely to increase.
SES Rainfall chart for Redhill
Ponds for Nature
Like so many other aspects of our environment we need to do more to conserve and optimise the use of this precious resource not just for ourselves but also for the plants and animals that depend on it. Climate change is likely to lead to less water in our environment so what we do now to help conserve and optimise our water resouces will have a positive impact on wildlife. To this end the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative is developing a strategy to:
1 Understand better our local natural water resources through maps and surveys
2 Encourage more residents to incorporate into their gardens, water features that will serve the needs of wildlife
In the first instance our efforts will be directed to 1) conducting a survey of natural and artificial ponds in the 4Bs and 2) encouraging and helping residents in the 4Bs to make a pond for wildlife or enhance an existing pond.
Ponderful - a UN project to raise awareness of the importance of ponds