Wildlife Information Board at Bovingdon Green

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 22 Feb 2020

Located at Bovingdon Green HP3 0LD, this information board has the following wording: First Column A healthy pond can provide many benefits to local wildlife. Restoration work carried out in February 2012 has aimed to restore the pond, through stripping back of surrounding trees and shrubs and dredging of local built up materials. Increased light levels will encourage the growth of water loving vegetation and help dormant seeds of plants that previously thrived burst into life. Many attractive and colourful plants flourish in the damp, wet conditions. As vegetation begins to emerge following the restoration, see if you can spot the pinky white flowers of bogbean in late spring, the bright flowers of yellow flag iris in early summer, or the tall stems of great willowherb in mid to late summer. The restored pond provides a perfect home for amphibians such as common frog and smooth newt, not least because there are lots of insects to feed on! Look out for little green heads poking through the surface of the water. Second Column Images of Lesser Bond Sedge, Bogbean and Yellow Flag Iris. Third Column Old farm buildings and mature trees close to Bovingdon Green are prime roosting spots for bats. At dusk, you may be lucky enough to see a common pipistrelle or a Daubenton's bat flitting around the pond, searching for insects. Ponds make great habitat for a variety of insects. Look out for common pond skater, skimming across the water's surface, boat-shaped backswimmers using their powerful lower legs as oars, and large, colourful dragonflies hovering over the pond in late spring and summer. Images of Daubenton's Bat, Common Pipistrelle and Pond Skater Fourth Column Images of Common Darter, Water Mint, Water Forget-me-not and Common Frog. In the pond are images of Great Pond Snail, Smooth Newt, Backswimmer and Great Diving Beetle. Bottom of the information board are signs for No Swimming and No Fishing.

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