The Wildlife Trust for Shefield and Rotherham has received a grant worth nearly £50,000 from Biffaward to continue the work of the South Yorkshire Ponds Project. Last year the project successfully carried out surveys and restoration work on a number of ponds in the area, enhancing sites that had long been neglected and providing improved areas for people and wildlife. The new funding will allow the project to continue and expand, carrying out detailed scientific surveys and delivering work on a further 17 ponds across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley. Practical works will restore some dried out or silted up ponds and management works at others will enhance their value for wildlife.
In the last 100 years, the number of ponds in the UK is thought to have declined by 60% and many of those remaining are in a poor condition diminishing their value for wildlife. Ponds are now a priority habitat for biodiversity action in the UK as they support up to 60 different priority species including the nationally threatened Great Crested Newt.
The project has been funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. Cath Hare, Biffaward Assistant Programme Manager, said: “Biffaward is keen to support projects which improve access to the countryside and encourage us to learn more about our natural environment. This project does both and will provide enjoyment for all throughout the year.”  
Members of the public can support the project by providing records and local knowledge, so if you know of a pond (with the exception of garden ponds) in the South Yorkshire area, please let us know. There is also a simple local Pond Survey Form available from the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham, so why not carry out a quick assessment of the condition of your local pond. You never know what you might find!
Chris Monk, Project Officer said “There are a great number of ponds in the South Yorkshire area, many of which are no longer managed, resulting in them silting up and losing much of their value for wildlife. This project is helping to conserve and improve a habitat that very important to the biodiversity of the region. It will encourage others to look after their ponds and to create new ones. Everyone can help by telling us what wildlife they have seen in their local ponds and in locating ponds that are in need of future restoration”.
There will also be a variety of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the Project through medium-term volunteer placements with the Trust. For those interested in learning how to survey a pond or look after ponds the project staff will be running training events. There will also be support available for local communities to help people raise funds for any pond maintenance work required or to increase further community involvement.
For more information on the project and how you can get involved, visit the South Yorkshire Ponds Project webpage