How Lancashire landowners can get a free pond this summer
If you own land in Lancashire, there’s a unique opportunity available to have a pond created or restored on your property for free.
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) is working with Natural England to deliver The District Level Licensing Scheme - a conservation programme aimed at creating and restore wildlife ponds across our region in areas where they can do the most good, particularly for protected amphibians like the great crested newt.
They said: “Fresh water ponds aren’t just pretty features, they are a vital wildlife habitat which support a whole host of wildlife including amphibians, dragonflies, birds, mammals and insects plus many more. The creation or restoration of ponds is completely free and adds a wonderful natural feature to your land, for both people and wildlife. The addition of a pond will greatly enhance the biodiversity and habitat value of your land, benfiting a whole host of species well beyond just great crested newts.”
The District Level Licensing Scheme is offering the people up to six ponds on one land holding.
How much space do I need?
All ponds produced under the scheme must be a minimum of 150sqm, therefore the size of your land must exceed the minimum size of pond required.
What land is eligible?
To be considered for a District Level Licensing Scheme your land should be within a strategic opportunity area (areas which will most effectively support the long-term survival and connectivity of great crested newt populations) for pond creation. Exisiting ponds can be restored, especially if they are overgrown, poorly functioning or in need of improvement. Please note that any new ponds must be sited where wildlife can potentially thrive, close to good terrestrial habitat.
See if your land is deemed suitable on the Natural England website, learn more here
Each application is considered individually, so early contact helps get the process started as efficently as possible.
How the scheme works:
The Trust (as your habitat delivery body) carries out checks on your land to see if it’s within a strategic opportunity area. If suitable, you’ll be sent a landowner agreement to sign, this is not legally binding but covers habitat management for up to 25 years.
A pond then gets created or restored under scheme guidance, and initial monitoring happens three months after completion. Long-term monitoring (including water sampling for newt DNA testing) and funded maintenance checks also occur through the agreement term. This means no cost to you, the work and long-term care are fully supported through the scheme.
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