About the event

This day’s course is designed for community groups, parish councils, churches and local community activists wishing to restore or optimise their local ponds for wildlife or considering creating a new community pond - led by Simon Hooton, long-time conservationist and volunteer conservation adviser for Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

Although a plan and timetable for the day has been created, every effort will be made to identify and cover particular examples and issues that participants bring to the day and so course content may vary slightly.

During the morning indoor session, we will explore the range of plants and animals that use ponds and what they need to thrive. From floating to emergent plants, from amphibians to the vast range of mini-beast that value ponds, this knowledge will help identify how a pond can be structured to provide the essential elements, including the importance of adjoining terrestrial habitat. We will touch on the history of ponds and why they are still present or have been lost over time.

We will explore the habitat management needed and how it might be possible to restore derelict or neglected ponds and boost a pond’s potential. We will also touch on pond creation – from diggers and puddling, to artificial liners and hand work. This will include issues around gaining the right permissions, identifying and guiding contractors and engaging the community so that the pond remains cared for and valued. Topics such as volunteer management and safety, considering public access and how people can be enthused through good interpretation will be discussed.

After the indoor session we will take a walk around Shimpling Park Farm, to see a range of different ponds and consider management options when matched against resources and opportunities. Our grateful thanks go to John and Alice Pawsey for making this Community Ponds for Wildlife course at Shimpling Park Farm possible.

A brief indoor session will end the day to summarise learning and undertake some evaluation, ensuring the course is completed by 4pm.

Tea and coffee will be provided in the morning and at lunchtime. Please feel free to bring your own re-usable mug, or a flask.

Please bring:
A packed lunch
Notepad and pen 
A camera or binoculars if you wish
Please dress suitably for the weather and for walking around the farm in the afternoon.

When booking please ensure your email/contact address is correct as it will be used to send event joining instructions. If you do not receive these instructions after booking, please contact: wild.learning@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Please note that your booking is non-refundable and non-transferable and we run all our courses based on a minimum number of participants. You can find our full Terms & Conditions via this link:  https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/wildlearninginfo

This is the first in a series of new Community Wildlife Courses arranged by Suffolk Wildlife Trust to support communities, parish councils and churches in optimising the habitat for wildlife in their local public spaces. Topics in the programme include:

Understanding your Community's habitat
Understanding your Community's river
Community Trees & Woodland for Wildlife
Community Ponds for wildlife
Community meadows
Churchyard management 
Community Hedges for Wildlife
Wildlife in your Parish

To find all our courses as they are added you can visit our Adult Learning page here: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/wildlearning

If the course you wish to attend is full or you cannot make the date, please let us know so that we can register your interest and let you know of opportunities planned for the future. You can contact us on: teamwilder@suffolkwildlifetrust.org or Tel: 01473 890 089.

If you are a community or individual already taking action for wildlife, please do tell us about it and get involved with Team Wilder. To find out more and log your action, visit the website here: https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/team-wilder