Biodiversity Flourishes in Restored Dew Ponds on the South Downs

Ecological surveys have revealed a rich variety of wildlife in old livestock watering holes, known as dew ponds, that have been restored by the South Downs National Park.

One notable discovery was the scarce blue-tailed damselfly, a species previously thought to be extinct, which was recently recorded in one of the newly restored ponds.

Bringing Dew Ponds Back to Life

The national park has been working to restore 10 dew ponds, helping to provide essential drinking water and habitat for insects, birds, amphibians and mammals.

“The plants are growing in it; the insects are coming back. Just to see it alive, it’s exciting when you come up here, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to see,” Sylvia King, who carries out a survey on one the ponds, said.

A century ago, dew ponds were a familiar feature across the South Downs.

Dug into chalk grassland by farmers to provide water for sheep, more than a thousand ponds once dotted the Sussex landscape. They formed important freshwater habitats supporting a wide range of species.

However, changes in agricultural practices led to many of these ponds falling into disrepair. As they dried out, their value as wildlife refuges was lost.

Species Returning to Restored Wetlands

Restoration work has already resulted in the return of numerous aquatic species, including:

• Diving beetles

• Water boatmen

• Dragonflies

• Backswimmers

• Whirligig beetles

• Ramshorn snails

Climate Pressures on Wet Habitats

Warmer, drier summers are placing increasing strain on wetlands. Because much of the South Downs landscape is formed of porous chalk, rainwater does not easily collect in surface hollows.

Experts estimate that around 70% of the ponds that once existed on the Downs are now in poor condition or have disappeared completely.
In many areas, there is no surface water available at all.

Expanding Restoration Work

“Out on the downs, ponds are not that common,” Jan Knowlson, a bio-diversity officer for the South Downs National Park, said.

“We’ve got the sea right there, saline lagoons, we’ve got rivers,” but ponds, she said, were uncommon, which made the dew ponds even more important.

Building on recent successes, the South Downs National Park is now planning to restore a further 90 ponds across the landscape, helping to improve freshwater habitat and support recovering wildlife populations.

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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.