Freshwater Frenzy?

An enthusiasm seems to be developing in the UK for creating new ponds as 'hot spots' of biodiversity (http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds/). The plan aims to double the number of ponds by digging half a million (restoring the number lost over the last 150 years). The activity can work very well, as an artificially created pond at Pinkhill by the Thames, has become one of the richest for freshwater animal and plant life in the country in a remarkably short space of time. There are occasional problems (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7853070.stm) as burgeoning fish have had to be 're-located' from the Caen Hill set of locks near Devizes in Wiltshire as they have been endangering rare dragonfly nymphs and aquatic plants. Ponds can, of course, be invaded by problem-causing alien species of plants such as Parrot's feather (shown) and Water hyacinth. Management will be needed at least to some degree. I have had personal experience of the enthusiasm for the natural world that can be encouraged in young children by activities such as pond dipping at both the National Wetlands Centre Wales at Llanelli (http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/120/national_wetland_centre_wales.html) and the National Botanic Garden Wales (http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/). I regard this as being an excellent way of developing an early understanding of the environment and the need for taxonomic (identification) skills.