Breaking Ice

We have been having some cold and frosty weather down here in Dorset, even a sprinkling of snow over the last few starry moonlit nights. I have been down to the Nature Area a couple of times to check it out. The pond has been freezing right over. Quite thick ice. Unfortunately, somebody has been repeatedly breaking the ice, throwing in logs, branches, fence posts and litter. This may be what passes as fun for bored youngsters in the village but it is definitely not a good thing for wildlife. The physical disturbance stirring up the waters and the bottom sediments, and the shock waves as the ice is smashed, can injure and kill the small creatures that are overwintering and hibernating in the pond.

Unfortunately, there is little we can do to prevent people damaging our Nature Area in this way. It is very sad. Nature lovers, followers of this website, and villagers in Charlton Down reading this post, will all probably be aware of the dangers to pondlife from breaking ice violently like this, but if you could pass on the knowledge of the hazards to wildlife when the opportunity arises it would be very much appreciated. Not everyone knows. A gentle reminder that a Nature Area or Reserve is not an adventure playground and that we have a special duty to protect wildlife living there. There are safer recommended ways to ensure that animals can drink and that oxygen supplies are maintained in the water than repeatedly smashing the ice in every part of the pond.

Apologies for the very poor quality of the photographs which were taken just as light was breaking this morning.