With the weather warming up and Wintringham wildlife habitats starting to buzz with activity and new life, experts and volunteers from The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants (BCN) helped local families explore the underwater world of Bret Pond.
10 April 2025
Over 30 children attended and had a great time discovering some of the creatures that live beneath the surface and in the aquatic vegetation during guided pond dipping sessions. Among the wildlife discovered were mayfly and damselfly nymphs, phantom midge larvae, lesser water boatman, a saucer bug, pea mussel and freshwater shrimp. They also spotted nesting moorhen.
Wintringham families also found out about emergent, shade-giving and oxygenating aquatic plants, the importance of native species and how to install a bucket pond with rock ledges in their garden. They were then given all the elements they would need to help create a microhabitat at home – except the water!
Five enthusiastic young conservationists from Paxton Pit Youth Rangers helped The Wildlife Trust team and shared their enthusiasm with fellow nature lovers.
Debbie McKenzie from The Wildlife Trust BCN said: “Every pond is different, and changes can be observed in pondlife throughout the year, as various creatures pass through their various lifecycles. Ponds are endlessly fascinating and by setting up a pond, even in a bucket in your garden, you can increase the diversity of species found there.”
“In our education centre grounds, we’ve seen evidence that a dragonfly can complete the larval stage from egg to pond creature from the mini pond. This can last one or two even about five years before emerging as a beautiful dragonfly.”
Christine Littlewood, from Wintringham master developer Urban&Civic, said: “Wintringham is creating homes for nature as well as people and it was lovely to see local families engage with the natural world around them. We’d like to thank The Wildlife Trust and Youth Rangers for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with our residents, who are formulating plans for mini wildlife spots with their bucket ponds at home.”
To find out more about supporting wildlife in your back garden, visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening.
