BUTTERFLIES IN HOLYWELLS PARK, IPSWICH
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Pond Life 2024 Our garden pond at Westerfield Road, Ipswich is a fibreglass precast mould roughly oval in shape. Its small size and precast shape mean there are no shelves for aquatic plants or a shallow area. Consequently, just Canadian pondweed covers the surface and a water bowl is nearby for birds to bathe and drink. Sticks have been wedged into gaps between the paving slabs around the pond and these are intended to help emerging dragonflies and damselflies. These sticks are linked by fishing line to deter amorous Mallards and early morning Grey Herons. The pond is visible from our nearby kitchen window. This diary runs from February to October 2024. 24.2: The first Common Newt was seen in the water. They spend the winter out of the pond but we have only once found one in its winter quarters. 7.3: Algae was removed from the pond, with a close search for any water snails, some just 3mm in diameter. These were returned to the pond. 18.3: The first frog was seen in the pond. 27.3: Three frogs were now present, presumably all male as we have had no frogspawn for many years. I know of several places where I could get some but that would risk transferring any infections. 29.3: A large amount of Canadian pondweed was removed and left close to the pond for several days to allow any aquatic life to survive. A close search revealed an unidentified small beetle, water snails and a very welcome six Common Newts. 11.4: The first Large Red damselfly arrived, one of the species breeding in the pond. We only occasionally find exuviae.
The garden pond measuring 160 x 93 cm and 38 cm deep. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 60 (2024)