Three ponds have been restored and enhanced on Higher Thorne Farm with support through the Headwaters of the Exe project. The restored ponds will deliver benefits for biodiversity and water quality as well as improvements to water storage and natural flood management.
Each pond has been increased in size with gentle slopes created to attract a wider range of biodiversity. Leaky outlets have been installed to ensure a base flow to run through all year round, but to attenuate and hold back high flows. These ponds will now also act as sediment traps and prevent nutrients running off the land and into the River Exe downstream.
Here are some before and after photos of the three ponds.
Top pond before (left) and after (right)
Middle pond before (left) and after (right)
Bottom pond before (left) and after (right)
For more information about the Headwaters of the Exe project please get in touch with FWAG Farm Environment Advisers, Anne May: anne.may@fwagsw.org.uk / 07717837603 or Rory Cox: rory.cox@fwagsw.org.uk / 07931253074