The value of our new pond

Although it is early days in the re-establishment of the flora and fauna in our newly re-constructed pond, we still should appreciate and value this asset in the Charlton Down Nature Area because of its:

Amenity value for village residents for whom it provides a focal point in a leisure space where it is a safe to walk, sit, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, promoting health and mental well-being in an enhanced environment.

Biodiversity value because the pond is a way of maximising the potential for wildlife of all kinds to flourish in the nature area. The pond is a biome and an important part of a wider food web, and the web of life itself. It is a haven for the seen and unseen. The impact extending far beyond the margins of the pond.

Conservation value because the pond helps to provide the conditions for preserving existing wildlife in the locality and encouraging new species to visit or colonise.

Value as a Drought Refuge because all living things need water and the pond supplies for the needs of not only the aquatic organisms that live in or around it but acts as a magnet for other creatures that travel far and wide to drink there, and maybe also rely on it as a location for breeding and laying eggs that develop via a water-based life stage.

Education value because it is a resource for formal learning about the natural world via the national curriculum in schools, and informal learning about British wildlife through observation and information dissemination.

We should respect and protect this valuable asset in our community, and watch as it gradually develops into a beautiful wildlife haven.