You may see many different types of plants and a wide variety of wildlife at the pond, depending on the time of year and time of day.
Some are rare species like the great crested newt, which is protected, and the midwife toad, so called because the male toad carries the eggs on his back after spawning until ready to hatch. Listen for the toads’ distinctive bell-like calls between April and October.
During the day, you may see foxes, rabbits and squirrels. As evening falls, the bats come out and hedgehogs begin their night-time walks.
There may be pond skaters and water boatmen skimming over the water. Watch out too for damselflies and dragonflies. Martins and swallows swoop to catch food for their young. You may hear woodpeckers hammering in the trees and catch sight of blackbirds, chaffinches, magpies and wagtails. And maybe spot a heron waiting patiently in the water for dinner to swim by.
Bees and butterflies such as the meadow brown, tortoiseshell and peacock visit the flowers around the pond. In spring, you may see snowdrops, primroses and bluebells, and in summer, comfrey, herb robert and white campion. Many different types of wildflower grow here. In autumn, spindle-berries glow and hazelnuts ripen, useful ingredients in the storehouse of food for birds and squirrels in winter.