How (and why) we built a dew pond

Built in 2014, the Weir Farm dew pond has become a magnet for wildlife

Ponds are an oasis for wildlife, attracting insects, birds, small mammals and of course amphibians.

Dew ponds (sometimes also called cloud ponds or mist ponds) were a common farming practice in the Marlborough Downs area in the 18th and 19th centuries. These man-made ponds were created with clay and straw for farm animals to drink at.

But as sheep farming has dropped off in the area, so have the ponds, meaning that over 60% of the area around the Weir Farm was without a reliable source of water.

So in 2014 we joined the Marlborough Downs Space for Nature’s pond scheme, to be part of creating a necklace of dew ponds across the Downs.

Our modern day pond is made with a thick liner rather than the 18th century clay and straw, and it’s become a hive of dragonflies, frogs, birds and small mammals.

Despite their beautiful name, the water in the ponds is in fact rainfall, not dew or mist. We monitor the water quality of the ponds to make sure it stays safe for our wildlife. The latest results showed our pond water pure enough to meet drinking water standards…but we’ll leave it to the frogs to enjoy.

Find out more Weir Farm Wildlife here.