Sunday 11 August 2013

A Moat and a Mini Pond


Female Broad Bodied Chaser on the pond



I think old manor houses surrounded by moats are beautiful; I love the idea of living in a place surrounded by water and if I can't have my own island (a favourite day-dream) then living in a house with a moat is the next best thing. Well; I don't know where the nearest moated-manor house is (or how much it would cost!) - but I am quite lucky in that the smallholding does have a sort of moat around it because it has a large pond on two sides (the east and the south side).






The old name (in the old documents) for the smallholding is 'Moat Meadow' - and so this feature has obviously been here for centuries.  The moat, or pond, is spring-fed, and in the heatwave it has become covered with an unpleasant coat of algae (which is at last starting to clear).  It's level has also dropped - as it does in dry years - and when this happens the pond dries up altogether in the south west corner.  This isn't usually a problem, except that when we first got sheep we thought that the pond would be a barrier to keep them in...

The pond dries up





...and it wasn't - because when the level dropped the sheep jumped right over the pond, through the hedge (the next barrier) and then disappeared out in the surrounding fields, leaving just a trail of hoof-prints.

It was the worst time for this to happen. I was about to go to work and I had to ring in with the poor excuse that 'I won't be in this morning because I'm looking for my lost sheep'. And then I had to follow the trail across the fields until eventually I found the sheep happily grazing in a local nature reserve.

Amazingly, they followed me back to the smallholding. I think they'd had enough of their adventure by then. Once they were safely home, David and I spent an afternoon wading in the pond to put up a line of solid stock fencing. It was a really mucky, horrible job, but this (and a thicker, more difficult-to-pass-through hedge) has done the trick and the sheep haven't escaped since.

The pond is mainly used by our geese and visiting ducks and moorhens. The bees also find their water here and on warm days I can watch them fly backwards and forwards from the shallow edges to the hive.  The pond also attracts dragonflies, damselflies and this lovely Banded Demoiselle...



I'd love to encourage more wildlife; just over 10 years ago we had some water voles here and I would watch them for ages.  This was the only old photo I could find that I took at this time, although I do have them on film...



I'm not sure why the water voles disappeared; apparently mink have occasionally been spotted in the area, although I've never seen one here.  But I would love to see the water voles back again.

At the moment our main resident on the pond is an orphan duck. Earlier in the summer, I wrote about the surprise appearance of an injured duck and her six ducklings - and how I had tried (and failed) to rescue them.  Sadly, I didn't see the mother again after the first few days and, after a couple of weeks, the ducklings began to disappear (I know that the moorhens were responsible for at least one disappearance).  Then I didn't see any ducklings at all, and so I thought they'd all gone - until one morning I heard a little piping sound and saw that one duckling had survived.  And, against all the odds, she's survived on her own ever since.





At the same time all other adult ducks had disappeared from the pond, so she really was on her own. When any duck did happen to turn up for a short while, the duckling would race to meet it and start to follow it around - even though the adult ducks usually didn't have any time for her...

The orphan duck following a visiting adult around the pond





Now she's grown and the other ducks have begun to turn up again, so she has plenty of company - and although she's much smaller (and noisier) than all the other ducks, she certainly makes sure she gets her share of the food.








A Mini Pond

I wanted to create a mini-pond to encourage the wildlife that I don't see on the large pond (perhaps this is due to the ducks, geese and moorhens?) So a couple of days ago I emptied out an old sink that we've grown veg in on and off for years and filled it with water...









..and I've started to create the mini pond. I've just put in some water mint, water spearmint, ivy leaved crowfoot and hornwort and I've created different depths in the small space. It would be fantastic if it could attract the odd frog and toad, although they'll have to avoid this predator that appeared on the smallholding a couple of weeks ago...

Grass snake






The mini pond will be too small for much wildlife, but I'm hoping it will be home to a few tiny creatures. Smaller insects are already buzzing around the flowering water mints.

49 comments:

  1. What a fabulous day dream - to live in a beautiful cottage surrounded by a moat - if only!
    Love your ponds and the wildlife you are attracting - except for the snake though, it ay as well have been a Python cos I would have run and screamed no matter what.
    We have a mini lake and while we did fill it with fish and our lovely Koi, a family of Otters decided to take up residency at the local cove and our pond happens to be right in the path of the youngsters as they look for new territory. It took 2 replacements of fish before we found the little critter having his travelling lunch lol, now we just dont bother.

    A duck would be nice though!

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    1. Thanks Linda. How wonderful that you have otters! I know Koi are special, but I would fill a pond with fish to attract otters. I'm certain we wouldn't get any here because our pond is isolated from other streams and rivers. And I think my day-dream of a moated house will always stay just a day-dream!

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  2. How lucky to have a moat on two sides. They must be very understanding at work with that excuse about the sheep. I suppose we have our own moat and at a really high tide we even become an island! Have a good week xxx

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    1. Thanks Fran. Well, the sheep escaped during my former job. I was acting director there at the time, too (!) but fortunately now I have my own little business I wouldn't have to make that phone call. And I do envy you looking out at water from your windows. I would be constantly fascinated by the movement, the reflections and the changing light on its surface.

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  3. Your tale of the escaping sheep brings to mind a nursery rhyme, who was it who lost her sheep and didn't know where to find them? Lovely to have your ponds and all the wildlife they bring - it's a wonder you get any work done for watching all their comings and goings. I am so pleased the orphan duck has some company now and hope they all stay around for it.

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    1. Thanks Elaine. I hadn't thought of that nursery rhyme, but I think I'm some decades older than Bo Peep was supposed to be!! I wonder if she went into a bit of a panic, too. I agree that ponds are always fascinating and the plants around them are always changing, too. Each year brings something different.

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  4. A really lovely post full of interesting things. Your grass snake looks to be a big one? So heart-warming to hear about the little duck- what a survivor! I read that when ponds dry up over hot summers they reveal very important mineral-rich muds and plants which are vital for insects. Love your mini pond- I bet you get more in it than you're expecting.

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    1. Thanks CT. I don't know if the grass snake was a big one; it certainly looked a mature one. It slithered out when we dug into our mulch heap. I don't really spend much time looking at the dried up area of the pond, but I think you're right - I should do. I could see all sorts of unexpected things there.

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  5. A really lovely post, you do have the most wonderful site, with so much wildlife already. I'm very envious! The duck story is great, glad she has some friends now. I hope you get some creatures visiting your mini pond as well.

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    1. Thanks CJ. I've certainly seen more wildlife here this year than I have for a while, but then last year was so wet and dreadful for it. I'm pleased the duck has some company at last, too; she obviously missed other ducks around.

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  6. I'm glad that at least one of the ducklings has survived. It must have been lovely having water voles, I hope they will return one day.
    Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah. I am really pleased that this one duck survived. I read that ducks don't survive that young without their mother - but she managed it. The water voles were very special; I would be so thrilled if they returned.

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  7. So glad that one of your ducklings is still around. A survivor if ever there was one!
    It is amazing how much more wildlife water attracts. We have had many dragonflies and damselflies in the garden this year too and it is lovely to see them. How wonderful to have had water voles though, what I would give for those, and some ducks!

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    1. Thanks Jessica. I think it's incredible that the duck did survive when there was so obviously plenty of danger here for her. I don't know how the water voles reached the pond because there isn't a link to other streams; they suddenly appeared - and then disappeared. If I knew how to encourage them back, I would.

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  8. Such good news about duckling! It must have been very special to watch the water voles. x

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    1. Thanks Suzy. The duck is now very at home here and follows me around for food. And I would happily sit and watch the water voles for hours as they swam to and fro with reeds in their mouths.

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  9. How fabulous to have water voles! I've only ever seen one, down by the river, and Snippet nearly had it for lunch. A grass snake too - fantastic. Glad the duckling is okay too...

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    1. Thanks Em. The water voles were pre-Harry but fortunately the growth is so thick around the pond he's lost any interest he did have in it now. And this is the first grass snake I've seen here for years, I'd love to know how many we have actually had here (but I haven't known about).

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  10. What a joy that one of the little ducklings is still with you - hopefully she will have her own brood one day.
    Sadly the Water Vole is one of Britain's fastest declining wild mammals, and I think you are perhaps right to think along the lines of the Mink.
    It is always so lovely to see your posts, and discover what little gems you have found in your local countryside.
    I did like the tale about your sheep.

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    1. Thanks Rosemary. Yes - I am already thinking about the duck having ducklings of her own! But I wonder how long she will stay here now she's starting to fly. I didn't think there were any mink here, until they were spotted just across the next field. They certainly wouldn't find much to keep them here, but I suppose they could have been wandering through. I do hope water vole numbers recover, they are such lovely little creatures.

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  11. What a lovely post - your small holding sounds so beautiful and full of wildlife :) I would have been thrilled to have had water voles too - so sad they disappeared but they are suffering such a decline in recent decades over England. So glad one of the ducklings survived - and I love your new mini-pond - a wonderful idea.

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    1. Thanks Caroline. I realise now how lucky we were to have the water voles because 10 years on it's clear how much their numbers have declined. I haven't heard of any in the immediate area today. And I don't know what to expect in the mini pond, so anything will be a surprise!

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  12. I think you would need to get rid of the mink in your area for them to have any chance, as mink are responsible in part for their decline. How lovely to have had them though. A beautiful post full of lovely creatures. I'm sure your mini pond will attract what needs to live there-so quite exciting to keep an eye out and record what happens. So happy to hear your orphaned duck has some company now and will be back in the relative safety of a group.

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    1. Thanks Suzie. I agree about getting rid of the mink here for the water voles to thrive again. Rumour has it mink were seen on the local nature reserve so I expect they will deal with them. I'm much happier the duck has other ducks around her now, I'm sure they're not supposed to be solitary creatures and she had been alone for so long.

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  13. Glad you found the wandering sheep and that the lone duckling survived and now has some friends. How wonderful to have had water voles such rare creatures now especially because of the mink. Your pond in a sink sounds interesting and I hope it attracts some frogs and toads or perhaps newsts?:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie. I don't know what we would have done if the sheep had disappeared completely! At least they left tracks I could follow. I would love to have frogs and/or toads and/or newts here. I haven't seen a toad for a few years and I can't remember when I last saw a frog. Apart from anything else,they would be so good for the garden.

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  14. We all have those sort of day dreams, doesn't do us any harm does it?
    I smiled at your sheep tale, hoped you get your wish of water voles returning and was sad then pleased to hear how the duckling is getting on.
    I hope you get some interesting visitors in your wee mini-pond. I've had no luck in attracting very much thus far in mine!

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    1. Thanks Angie. Yes - my 'island' and 'moat' day dreams keep me happy for a while! I love the ducks ability to survive, how she survived the predators alone and so young I can't imagine.And I'm sorry to hear you haven't attracted many creatures to your pond yet; I'm guessing it will take a while for anything to find mine, too.

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  15. How funny to call into work and say you've lost your sheep! I love all of the different water features of your home. And so glad one of the ducklings made it ~ that is very sweet.

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    1. Thanks Stacy. Yes - my excuse did make people smile. Fortunately, it only happened the one time! Last time we had ducklings here most of them survived - but then they had their mother. Watching this one cope on its own has been fascinating.

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  16. What fantastic pics, I felt like I was right in the middle of The wind in the willows reading this. I love your water vole and the grass snake, and I'm sure your lovely mini pond will attract all sorts of mini critters.

    I was laughing about your sheep story........it's never convenient when animals escape is it, and I sure know that feeling.

    Another wonderful post, as usual Wendy.xxxx

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  17. Oh....forgot to say....the little lonely duckling story warmed the cockles of my heart.xxxx

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  18. Thanks for all your comments, Snowbird. I wish the pond was Wind in the Willows idyllic - a lovely image! I imagine you do know about escapees through your work at the Rescue; animals always know their own minds, don't they? I was so relieved the sheep chose to escape over the fields and not go the other way towards the village and into gardens/over roads etc. That could have been chaos. And it is good the duck is no longer lonely, she may be small but she's also the boldest duck when it comes to getting the food.

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  19. Hello Wendy, what a lovely place you have there, so full of interesting things. The Banded Demoiselle is such a stunning colour, and what a beautiful photo. You also did very well to catch a pic of the grass snake. I was visiting my Mum in UK this year and we saw one, but it was in a pond some way away and not a lovely close up like yours. Thanks for sharing the comings and goings and dreams on your small holding. Bye for now Jane

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    1. Thanks Jane. The Banded Demoiselle is a beautiful little creature, isn't it? And so delicate. I'm interested that you've recently seen a grass snake, too. I'm sure the warmer summer here has made them more visible.

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  20. A nice story about the duck Wendy.

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    1. Thanks Roy. I expect one day she'll fly off, but she seems very happy here at the moment.

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  21. I'm really glad the duckling survived. :o) I tried to create a mini pond last summer but ended up with too many mosquitoes, which carry disease here. I converted it to a bog to solve the bug problem. I'd love to call into work and tell the school staff that I was off chasing my sheep. I'd have a lot of explaining to do when I finally showed up. :o)

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    1. Thanks Tammy. Sorry to hear your own mini pond didn't work out, but I'm glad you found a solution. I'd like a bog area here for wildlife and some of the lovely plants I can never get growing around the large pond for different reasons. So I might have a re-think about one. And I think everyone in the office was probably a bit stunned by my excuse!

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  22. It's surprising how much wildlife you get in a tiny pond. I made one in a half barrel a few years ago and a frog had moved in within a day! xx

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    1. Thanks Debbie. I'm encouraged by this! I haven't seen any frogs here for such a long time - so I'm hoping that one passing through will be attracted to the pond and stay there. If I had tadpoles, I would be really thrilled!

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  23. Super wildlife photos, especially your grass snake! It's amazing the wildlife a pond brings into the garden, it's fascinating watching everything that goes on in there, hope your mini pond soon has some tiny residents. If you get tadpoles, then watch for the grass snake, they will hoover them up unfortunately.

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    1. Thanks Pauline. This is my grass snake to match yours! I am concerned, as you say, that the snake will prey on any frogs and tadpoles my mini pond may attract. I don't suppose there's anything I can do about it, except hope that the snake has moved on. I am fascinated by ponds and the creatures in them - it's a whole world of its own.

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  24. How wonderful to have so much natural water around, with all its attendant wildlife. I hope you see a return of the voles (which sounds like a bad B movie) and that your loan survivor duckling has a long and happy life. I will be really interested to see what happens with your mini pond, as i have a sink that I have been wondering about repurposing for the same thing, but I won't get around to it until next year now.

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    1. Thanks Janet. We have a nature reserve fairly near by and if they ever re-introduce water voles there, I'll get in touch and see if we can link in. Then hopefully they will return! If you do create a pond in your sink, then I'll look forward to sharing notes on how the two ponds do.

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  25. It is telling that both nursery rhymes and bible stories tell of lost sheep! A farmer friend of mine says that sheep have only one mission in life: to find a new and foolish way to die. I am not sure about that, never having kept sheep. I would really love to find a way to have more water than a rather small, too formal yet overgrown and messy pond here. We are on such a steep slope that I can't work out how to make it happen!

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. I've heard this too about sheep, but I can't see it applying to mine - all three are 10 years plus now. They're also quite lazy and content and never under any stress. I also couldn't find a suitable place here to dig out a pond, so thought I'd try out an old sink and see what happens.

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  26. Did you get called little bo peep by your work colleagues after that incident? Great that you used to have water voles present! I am currently volunteering for my local wildlife trust and helping out with water vole surveying near me! Blasted mink! I know we should love all creatures, but it just seems so awful that a native mammal should be in such decline, primarily due to this non-native predator!

    Your small holding really does look like a haven for wildlife and I'm sure your pond will quickly attract lots of lovely insects etc!

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    1. Thanks Lou Mary. After the initial surprise, my work colleagues were certainly amused by it all! It's wonderful that you're helping to support water voles. They are a favourite creature of mine. I agree about mink - I am furious that it was ever introduced into this country.

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