Lake & Pond Creation & Maintenance - bridging Ecology & Commerce
Ethos
This company has been formed to provide an eco-sensitive pond and lake construction and maintenance service.
Based on knowledge gained through the excellent Pond Warden Scheme (BTCV), yet seeing the limitations of volunteer-based operations, I felt that real progress on the task of restoring the biodiversity, lost through generations of decline in pond use and degradation, could best be addressed commercially.
However, we try to commit between 5%-10% of our resources annually to voluntary projects.
We are determined to do all we can to assist The Million Ponds Project of The Ponds Conservation Trust and adhere as closely as possible to Dr. Jeremy Biggs' guidelines.
We believe that we achieve this aim through the innovative use of ultra-light bespoke machinery for negligible collateral damage and sensitive manual techniques, concentrating on pre-works survey, collection of species for later reintroduction, careful and minimum disturbance, and rapid restoration of conditions and native species plants for maximum biodiversity. A natural balance then occurs and improved biodiversity prevails.
We can identify and eradicate or control, without spraying of herbicide, any invasive species that may disturb this aim such as Elodea Canadensis/Crispa, Japanese Knotweed, Crassula Helmslii, Parrots Feather, Floating Pennywort, Terrapins, Signal Crayfish, etc.
Often our recommendation will suggest LESS work is undertaken than conventional methods, thus saving energy, money and disturbance.
The subject of ecology is so vast, with many fields of study and specialists, that there is almost no limit to the study that could be performed around a pond, so, to provide a reasonable level of care, we have found that approximately 10% to 20% of project value is usually a fair allocation to ecological survey work. This should be considered a rough guide as project works vary and this survey proportion may be increased due to a) our reduction of recommended works or b) the discovery of some very rare issue requiring further investigation. If we encounter such an event, our rates will be the lowest possible as we would donate much of our time to such an educational experience.
We aim to restore the diverse ecosystem through pollution control, hydrological analysis, aquatic and marginal floral variety and light conditions to produce a source for the wildlife food chain, in effect, a ‘supermarket’ for the birds and local fauna – where possible forming a group of ponds rather an isolated waterbody.
We aim to explore every avenue of design to satisfy the needs of landowner and the existing ecosystem to achieve a mutually beneficial solution to any conflicts of interest between the two.
We share ideals similar to ‘Permaculture’, that is, ‘a form of Whole Systems Design based on the sustainability of natural systems. It seeks to create sustainability in the human living environment, and is applicable to all realms of design. Permaculture is modular and applicable to any bioregion, bearing immense potential for satisfying basic human needs without compromising those of Earth.
Open the Permaculture web site here
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