Pond Restoration at Castle Wild Camp: Boosting Birds and Biodiversity

At Castle Wild Camp, restoring ponds is central to our conservation vision - and the results are already visible. Healthy ponds don’t just look good; they are biodiversity powerhouses, supporting aquatic insects, amphibians, and a wide range of birds.

The Science Behind Pond Restoration

Research led by Castle Wild Camp co-owner Jonathan Lewis-Phillips and colleagues has shown just how quickly pond restoration benefits wildlife:

• Insect abundance and biomass can rise 18-fold and 25-fold respectively after restoration.

• Bird numbers and species diversity increase dramatically, with restored ponds attracting nearly twice as many species and almost three times as many individuals as unmanaged sites (Lewis-Phillips et al. 2019a, Lewis-Phillips et al. 2019b).

• Priority farmland species such as skylark, linnet, yellowhammer, and starling are among the beneficiaries.

  
  

These findings mirror our own observations at Castle Wild Camp, where restored ponds have become hotspots for insect activity and feeding grounds for birds, especially during the breeding season.

Our Restoration Approach

We focus on:

• Removing overgrown scrub and excess sediment to bring back open-canopy conditions.

• Encouraging aquatic plant growth and creating “insect chimneys” - huge emergences of protein-rich invertebrates.

• Minimising disturbance so birds and bats can feed and nest close to the water’s edge.

  
  

Already, we’re seeing more aerial insectivores hunting over the ponds and higher numbers of nesting birds nearby.

Why Ponds Matter

Across England, many ponds have been lost to infill, drainage, or neglect. Restoring them creates vital habitat stepping stones, helping species move through the landscape and recover.

A Positive Model for Wildlife and People

Our pond restoration work shows that small-scale, targeted habitat projects, combined with low-impact tourism, can deliver rapid, tangible benefits for biodiversity...