© David Wright (CC BY 2.0)
The following is a short summary of the habitat type and how to create/enhance it to a "good" condition. For an informed position, please refer to official up-to-date UKHAB documentation or the UK Government's Condition Assessment Sheet.
Also known as an artificial lake or pond, Fountains, Artificial Ponds, Fishing Lake, Sand water-filled sand and gravel pits. These are lakes or ponds that are artificial standing water bodies, designed and managed primarily for ornamental purposes.
A lake is over 2ha
A pond is 2ha or less.
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
You may wish to refer to the following: Pond Creation Toolkit
How to get a "moderate" rating
In a management plan aiming to achieve ‘moderate’ condition the plan will show the following:
The design is to encourage wildlife rather than a sustainable drainage system (SuDS).
There shall be no artificial pipework draining water into pond and it will not be artificially connected to other waterbodies via ditches or pipes.
Water levels will be allowed to change naturally throughout the year without any artificial dams, pumps or pipework.
No fish shall be artificially stocked into the pond.
The pond shall be free from invasive non-native animal or plant species listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) or any species included on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) UKTAG GB High Impact Species List.
The pond will be kept free from excessive duckweed Lemna spp. and blanket weed (filamentous algae).
Semi-natural habitat shall be maintained around the pond.
If it is NOT a woodland pond
Less than 50% of the water surface is shaded by adjacent trees and shrubs.
How to get a "good" rating
In addition to the characteristics for moderate condition, to get a ‘good’ condition the plan will show the following:
Semi-natural habitat surrounding the pond will be extended out at least 10 metres from the pond edge so far as possible.
There shall be clean and clear water with no obvious signs of pollution or cloudiness.
A variety of plants will be allowed to grow at the edges, within the pond and floating on it (excluding duckweed).
Useful Resources
If you are interested in enhancing or creating this habitat, you should consider the following (all recommended by CIEEM or HM Government):