A new wildlife haven will be created at Cannop Ponds while many of the site's most popular features for people will be retained, Forestry England has revealed.
The new plan aims to improve the site for wildlife and people while also managing the risk of flooding, following nearly two years of investigation and consultation about the integrity of the ponds' dams.
Forestry England (FE) announced it was considering options for
the future of the ponds in July 2022 after inspections of the dams found they
would not withstand a 150-year flooding event — the likelihood of which is
increasing year-on-year due to climate change.
The plans represent a way to provide benefits for all sides of the debate over the ponds' future, with many wanting to see them retained in their current state for people and nature, while others wanted to see the valley re-wilded in some form to attract more native species.
The new approach will see the lower pond remain a large body of water — on which fishing will continue.
Engineering works will be carried out to build a new, larger spillway and make the existing dam watertight, increasing its ability to hold back storm water to protect communities downstream.
A more natural approach will be taken with the upper pond, with a mixture of open water, marsh and reedbeds being created and the current dam left as it is.
It is hoped the new habitat will allow wildlife to flourish — boosting numbers of invertebrate and plant species and in turn supporting more wintering birds; providing greater foraging opportunities for mammals including bats and otters; and giving amphibians and dragonflies more areas in which to breed.
The new plans could also provide opportunities to upgrade the site's walking trails, provide areas for pond-dipping and paddling and better viewing platforms for visitors.
The next step will be to carry out more detailed design work followed by a public consultation, before a planning application is submitted based on the feedback received.
