Pond patrol
Discover some of the special species living in a garden pond, with entomologist Ben Keywood.
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Sutton's Pond
A worked-out clay pit; two thirds of this reserve consist of open water and reed beds with a central island. In summer you will see water birds plus dragonflies and damselflies perched on water…
Common pond skater
The common pond skater can be seen 'skating' over the surface of ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-moving rivers. It is predatory, feeding on small insects by detecting vibrations in the…
Greater pond sedge
A tussocky sedge, Greater pond sedge has stout, upright flower spikes, strap-like leaves and triangular stems. It prefers lowland wetland habitats on heavy soils.
How to build a pond
A wildlife pond is one of the single best features for attracting new wildlife to the garden.
How to create a mini pond
Even a small pond can be home to an interesting range of wildlife, including damsel and dragonflies, frogs and newts. Any pond can become a feeding ground for birds, hedgehogs and bats – the best…
Great diving beetle
The great diving beetle is a large and voracious predator of ponds and slow-moving waterways. Blackish-green in colour, it can be spotted coming to the surface to replenish the air supply it…
King diving beetle
Britain's largest 'diving beetle' is an impressive creature, though it's not easy to find.
Ponds
Whether found in a garden or part of an agricultural landscape, ponds are oases of wildlife worth investigating. Even small ponds can support a wealth of species and collectively, ponds play a key…
Ponds Alive! project
Our ‘Ponds Alive!’ project was an exciting community-led initiative which took place in West Somerset in 2025. Coordinated by Somerset Wildlife Trust volunteer Elizabeth Atkinson, it aimed to help revitalise, enhance, and increase local freshwater habitats, while also encouraging more people to get involved in citizen science to help us learn more about West Somerset’s ponds and pond life.
Watch clubs
Our Wildlife Watch groups are for children to make friends with other nature-loving young people and have lots of fun taking part in practical nature activities - from pond dipping to wildlife safaris.
From dip to difference!
In this write-up from our Wilder Lives Manager, Kristen, discover how cold-water swimming can make us feel good while showing that we’re all part of the natural world.