Large-scale pond creation and more at Peat Rigg – a boost for wildlife and young people
Within a secluded dale near Cropton Forest you will find a new pond, larger than three football pitches, nestled among a vast hay meadow.
Alongside hundreds of metres of new and restored hedgerows and areas of woodland, a mosaic of habitats has been created at Peat Rigg Outdoor Centre, enhancing wildlife and offering new opportunities for young people to experience nature.
Made possible by the Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, this ambitious scheme will be enjoyed by thousands of young people a year through a range of outdoor learning experiences.
“The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme has enabled us to take part in projects that otherwise would have been beyond our means.
“The benefits for people and the environment have been huge - over 4,000 young people each year now have access to an on-site lake and a vastly more biodiverse environment.”
- Ian Thorpe, Director of Peat Rigg Outdoor Centre
For over 25 years Peat Rigg has been offering short residential courses and adventure days to young people as part of their mission to ‘inspire and transform young people through safe, inclusive and exceptional outdoor educational experiences’. Their 97-acre farm is visited by 138 schools a year and they work closely with local charities.
The creation of this 6.2 acre pond will enable canoeing on site, when previously they had to travel nearly an hour. This will not only enable them to offer additional experiences to a wider range of people, but to do so among a landscape that has been enhanced for wildlife.
Since the 19th century most of our pond habitats have been lost and are now scarce in an agricultural setting. This pond will provide many benefits to local wildlife, providing drinking water to an array of species and is situated less than 2km from several confirmed turtle dove records. Turtle doves are a red-listed species for which ponds are especially important because they need water sources to form ‘milk’ from seeds to feed their young.
The water, muddy margins and emerging vegetation provide refuge and egg laying sites for amphibians and invertebrates such as dragonflies and caddisflies. These invertebrates provide food for birds, like the house martin, and bat species that hunt near the water and can gather insects from the pond’s surface.
Dave Arnott, Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer, said: “It is incredible to see the positive impacts the pond is having. Young people have a truly immersive experience in nature, helping to foster understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
“The benefits to wildlife are also incredible. When we visited in the summer we saw dragonflies, damselflies, wildfowl, house martins and swallows feeding over the water.”
Alongside 8.9 acres of hay meadow creation around the pond and hundreds of metres of new and restored hedgerows, 14 self-closing gates were also installed. These gates will make access easier for children and adults with additional mobility needs.
To learn more about other schemes being supported through the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, head over to the project webpage.