Creating the Bog Habitat – a summary

When the New Pond was built at Charlton Down Nature Area in early 2024, we decided to convert the shallow end of the pond into a bog habitat – adding an additional major habitat and a new opportunity for wildlife to thrive at the site. It has been a long job but we are beginning to see the fruits of our labours – along with identifying some problems as well.

This 5 minute slideshow presents a step by step visual guide to the development of the bog habitat over the last two years. The bog habitat, and indeed the whole area, may look a bit of a mess right now but that is entirely intentional. It is the way that Nature needs to be. Interference must be kept to a minimum if we are to increase the abundance of organisms and increase the range of species – enhancing the biodiversity of the site. It is necessary to do this because we are currently in a Nature Emergency that is recognised at all levels in the United Kingdom. Parish Councils, County Councils, national governmental organisations and conservation bodies agree that actions must be taken to reverse the rapid decline in our native flora and fauna. Our work in this local nature area is one of the ways in which our village can contribute to the need for Nature Recovery (we are part of Nature Recovery Dorset) and help in a small way to reverse the regrettable state of affairs where the UK is currently the least biodiverse country in Europe – a fact which will have a negative effect on us all.

Untidiness creates the right environment for wildlife, helping the survival of all manner of creatures throughout the year and especially in winter. For example, there is no point in encouraging butterflies and other pollinating insects to feed by growing a greater number of flowering plants if you then cut the vegetation down as soon as it dies for the sake of tidiness. This action destroys the eggs, larvae and pupae of the next generation of invertebrates that are concealed within it. Fewer insects and the like means less food for the birds, amphibians, and invertebrates higher up the food chain. When they are gone, there is no food for the predatory birds and mammals as well as fewer pollinators to fertilise commercial food crops. The countryside as we have been privileged to know it will soon disappear if we do not take remedial action.