Current and Planned Projects
Littlewick ponds.
In the wooded area known as Littlewick Common, to the north of Littlewick Road near Knaphill, are several ponds. These have been identified by the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) as an important breeding site for the great crested newt. This is the largest and rarest of the three newt species found in Britain. The quality of these ponds had deteriorated as they were suffering from an accumulation of silt and excessive shading. With funding from the Horsell Common Preservation Society, SARG and Woking Borough Council, work was carried out by contractors and volunteers during the winter of 2008/9 to improve the two largest ponds on Littlewick Common.
A mechanical digger was used to scrape out silt from the pond by the chapel nursery school and overhanging branches have been cut back. The other pond, known as the island pond, was not dug out but volunteer working parties spent two days cutting back the trees and shrubs that were shading the water. Both ponds were dry at the time when the work was carried out.
In the following months, the winter rains have filled both ponds to capacity. An inspection of the ponds on 19th March found that they were being used by both great crested newts and their smaller cousin, the palmate newt. The more open aspect of the ponds should now also increase the variety of insects and other wildlife in these ponds.
Andrew Halstead.
