Volunteers have been getting their hands dirty to help protect one of Swindon’s most important wildlife species – taking advantage of unusually dry conditions to carry out conservation work at a local pond.
The volunteers joined Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Swindon Borough Council at a pond in Haydon End, where they spent the day clearing rubbish, managing vegetation and creating habitat features designed to benefit great crested newts and other wildlife.
The work is part of the Swindon Forest Meadows project, a long-running partnership between the Trust and the council aimed at protecting and connecting wildlife habitats across the borough.
Great crested newts are a protected species and depend on healthy ponds and surrounding grassland and green spaces for breeding and shelter.
This summer’s exceptionally dry weather provided an unusual opportunity for the conservation team, as falling water levels exposed parts of the pond which would normally be underwater.
That allowed volunteers to reach areas that would usually be inaccessible and remove debris and unwanted material before water levels rise again.
The Swindon Forest Meadows project currently supports a network of around 25 ponds known to be home to great crested newts, helping to maintain connected and resilient habitats across the borough.
Cllr Jake Chandler, Swindon Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resilience and Green Infrastructure, said volunteers played an important role in protecting the area’s biodiversity.
“Great crested newts are one of the UK’s rarest amphibians and we’re fortunate to have populations living across our borough,” he said.
“Looking after these habitats takes time, care and dedication, which is why the support of volunteers is so valuable.”
The council and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust are now encouraging more Swindon residents to join conservation activities through the project.
Opportunities extend beyond ponds, with volunteers able to get involved in managing meadows and woodlands, planting trees and helping to care for existing trees.
Neil Pullen, Conservation Officer at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said more than 50 volunteers had already helped with habitat work across Swindon through the project.
“From restoring ponds for great crested newts to managing meadows, woodlands and planting trees, volunteers make a huge contribution to nature recovery in Swindon,” he said.
Some volunteers have also gone on to gain specialist training and licences to take part in protected species work.
Mr Pullen added that there were opportunities for people with different levels of experience, from those completely new to practical conservation through to volunteers looking to develop specialist skills.
Residents interested in getting involved can find out more about volunteering opportunities through Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
