Common blue damselfly

Day 18 #365DaysWild

I built a pond in the orchard out of already recycled timbers.

Originally they’d been the floor joists in the first Home Brewery pub - in Kirkby-in-Ashfield up the road.

When the pub was demolished the joists became the risers in our container garden steps. But the risers were too deep so were modified and the timbers then were further re-purposed to become the rectangular pond in the orchard. An unused remnant of pond liner was then used and capped with gravel boards that had been used for path edging.

Logs donated by an arborist friend surround the pond to ease access for mammals.

‘Every pound a prisoner’!

Access to water is important for wildlife. Birds, mammals and insects are attracted, enriching our biodiversity. I’m a man of many ponds - nine from very small to very large in total so far. More will follow!!

Common blue damselflies have quickly adopted the new orchard pond. Great to see this attached mating pair with her ovipositor dipping into the pond surface to lay eggs that🤞will go on to be the next generation.