Biodiversity Action Plan

Ponds

There are thought to be between two and four thousand ponds in the Peak District. Approximately 75% of these are found in the White Peak, where most are dewponds dating back to the 19th century. There were significant losses of dewponds in the 1970s and early 1980s, with fewer ponds lost since. It is not currently known exactly how many ponds are still in existence in the Peak District.

Ponds are mainly lost due to:

• in-filling
• neglect, causing the cracking of concrete lined ponds, and puncturing of the clay ponds
• contamination from a variety of sources.

A significant species associated with ponds in the Peak District is the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), a European protected species, of which Britain supports about 50% of the global population.

The objectives of the ponds action plan are to protect the existing resource by encouraging appropriate management, to restore degraded and damaged ponds, and create new ponds where appropriate. These actions will help to maintain the landscape character of the White Peak dewponds and also provide wildlife interest and appropriate habitat across the Peak District for species such as great crested newts.

Several ponds in the Vision Project area of the White Peak have been restored or created recently thanks to funding from the SITA Trust.

Ponds Action Plan (285KB)