It has been estimated that there are now less than 300,000 ponds left in England and Wales. A 1988 survey showed that since the Second World War 182,000 ponds had been lost, mainly due to changes in agriculture and increasing urbanisation. In 1995, Liverpool John Moores University set up the Pond Life Project to gather information on remaining ponds in the North West and encourage local support to survey and protect local ponds. The project - funded by the European Commission's Life Environmental programme and supported by councils such as Wigan Metro, wildlife trusts and other British and European bodies - ran to February 1999.
The Ashton-in-Makerfield Pond Life Project was part of this scheme, and began building up a database of local ponds to survey and protect the ponds within our local community, preserving a vital resource for our wildlife, a place of recreation and enjoyment for the public, and a source of education and pleasure for our children.
As with so many local environmental projects, there is a dearth of volunteers available to continue this vital work. If you would like to volunteer to assist then please email us or contact the Ashton Community Forum for information on local environmental action.