We've created a new, shallow pond at Wolvercote Lakes to increase biodiversity in the area.  The new, standalone pool of water will provide a year-round wetland habitat for freshwater plants and amphibians.

Replacing an existing backwater, the new pond measures around 10m by 15m, with a variable depth. Separate from the two existing lakes which are deeper, the new pond is better able to support species that do not currently breed in the area. It will provide a refuge for freshwater plants and animals, including amphibians, insects and birds which are less suited to the habitat of the deeper lakes. The pond will also provide water for wildlife, a potential nest site for birds and flowering plants for pollinators, enriching the overall biodiversity of the area. 

Guided by Rod d’Ayala, Oxford Preservation Trust’s expert ecologist, our volunteers have been working hard on the project since Autumn 2023, excavating and preparing the ground. More recently, they have also been assisted by organisations from the Oxford North development, primarily Laing O’Rourke.

The final stages to complete the pond, which included the installation of the liner, were made possible thanks to a grant of £2,833 from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) and with funding from Grundon Waste Management Ltd through the Landfill Communities Fund. 

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