Clues to threatened species in Halton pond

Published by Roisin Rowley-Smith for Riverside in Communities and also in Education, Environment, Housing

A Runcorn pond that was once a dilapidated dumping ground may be thriving with great crested newts – a species which is legally protected and under threat in Britain.

Work on Gorsewood pond in Murdishaw was completed last summer, thanks to a funding boost from social landlord Riverside and Big Lottery, and it’s now host to a diverse variety of aquatic life.  Thriving freshwater shrimps, flat worms, newts and damselfly larvae are signs that the pond is relatively clean and has become an important site for wildlife.

Nick Rowles, people and wildlife officer for Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said:  “With larvae it is quite difficult to tell the difference between great crested newts and the more common smooth newts.  We will be able to tell if it’s supporting the rarer species once the larvae mature into adults.  Either way, it’s a very positive sign for a pond that was in a terrible state only a few years.”   

Cheshire remains a stronghold for great crested newts and was once dubbed ‘pond capital’ of the UK, due to the historical presence of thousands of field ponds.  However development and changes in our landscape have reduced the newts’ range in recent decades.

Pond numbers in the region are now thought to be less than 50% of the number found at the end of the 19^th century, making new additions vitally important.

Lorna Hughes is community engagement officer for Riverside, she added:  “We are delighted to learn that only a year after completion, the pond is already supporting a diverse range of aquatic life.  This is great news for children from Gorsewood Primary School, who go pond dipping on a regular basis.  It’s a valuable learning resource for schools and for the community.”