Hornwort

Newt amongst the hornwort

Poor fish, poor pond. The high temperatures of late together with the abundance of hornwort in the pond and the low water level have resulted in oxygen depletion. As a result many in our small shoal of sticklebacks have perished. All being well the newts and beetles and other pond creatures, including the recently laid damselfly and dragonfly eggs, will survive.

Water pumping from the Frome in progress

To alleviate the problem extra water has been added from the river and some hornwort taken out, with more being removed later in the year.

Hornwort pile, waiting for any hidden
creatures to find their way back to the pond

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While hornwort, a native water plant, is a brilliant oxygenator during the day, and the main one in the pond, during the night it takes in oxygen and just now is absorbing rather more than it’s producing.

The plant, which floats under the water, has other benefits, absorbing some nutrients from the pond to limit algal growth and offering a habitat for our newts and other aquatic creatures like the dragonfly and damselfly nymphs. You will also see some in the canal, providing a hiding place for the fish.