Dig a Pond for Dragonflies
Introduction
Apart from gravel pits, the decline in still-water habitats within the British Isles in the last 40 or 50 years is all too obvious. Ponds provided by traditional farming methods to supply water for stock are usually no longer required, as piped supplies have been installed.
Redundant ponds have dried out or have been filled in deliberately to provide additional land for agriculture or building. Often we see existing ponds used as refuse tips or they may simply be neglected to become over-shadowed by trees and bushes. Modern land-drainage techniques too have hastened the decline of our wetland habitats, either directly or indirectly, through the consequent lowering of the water table.
This loss of water bodies has resulted in a serious reduction of dragonfly populations, along with those of other aquatic organisms, in many parts of Britain. Indeed, some species are no longer found here. It is hoped that this leaflet will help to redress the balance by encouraging the construction or rehabilitation of ponds.
Before considering some of the practical aspects of pond construction, we offer the following brief notes on the general habitat requirements of dragonflies.
General habitat requirements for British dragonflies
- All species depend on permanent water.
- All species depend on the condition and stability of their aquatic breeding site and on the nature of the surroundings frequented by the adult (e.g. availability of feeding and roosting sites).
- Warmth is essential; upland and northern areas generally have fewer species than lowland and southern regions. The best sites are those that are sunny and sheltered from the wind.
- An abundance of submerged and emergent/marginal vegetation is necessary Submerged plants provide habitats for developing larvae, as well as being important oxygenators, while emergent/marginal vegetation is essential for emerging larvae. The latter also provides perching, roosting and oviposition sites for the adults. Newly emerged and immature adults require sheltered vegetation within a few metres of the water.