Wildlife

Garden Pond Habitat and Wildlife Welfare

Garden ponds provide critical habitat for declining amphibians and other wildlife, improving welfare for urban animals.

Key Facts

Great crested newts have declined by 50% in the UK due to pond loss
A single garden pond can support 100+ species of invertebrates
Ponds with gentle sloping sides allow animals to escape if they fall in
Tap water is harmful to pond life due to chlorine and pH differences
Wildlife ponds should have no fish which eat amphibian eggs and larvae

Welfare Considerations

Urban and suburban areas often lack the wetland habitat that amphibians and invertebrates require to complete their life cycles. Garden ponds can provide vital refuges for great crested newts, common frogs, toads, smooth newts, and thousands of invertebrate species. Well-designed ponds with varied depth, native plants, and safe access/egress improve survival rates and quality of life for local wildlife.

What You Can Do

Create a wildlife pond with sloping sides and native aquatic plants
Avoid using tap water — use rainwater from a water butt instead
Ensure hedgehogs and small mammals can escape from pond edges
Do not introduce fish to wildlife ponds
Record wildlife visitors to your pond and submit records to your local wildlife trust