Brownies enjoying pond-dipping spring 2011
Over the spring and the summer the new pond-dipping platform alongside the visitor centre has proved to be a huge success. Many visitors both young and old have enjoyed discovering more about the lesser known side of Radipole Lake, that being the millions of tiny creatures living below the surface water. Pond-dipping at Radipole was for many years a laborious task, involving huge amounts of effort just to get equipment and youth groups up to a small, isolated inlet at the top end of the Buddleia Loop. In bad weather groups were forced to take refuge in the viewing shelter, as well as using it to study their viewing trays. Those days are now behind us, and the simple joys of this free activity has become far more accessible to many more casual visitors to the reserve.
There was some concern that the newly created pond would take some time to mature. We needn't have worried though, as within a couple of weeks of the machinery and workmen moving out, life was positively booming within it. It soon became apparent that literally thousands of water-fleas or daphnia were living in it. These tiny creatures are highly prolific and are vital components of the food chain, and by early May groups of Brownies, Cubs and Beavers were spending happy evenings scooping them out into trays, along with hordes of water-boatmen. By the May Bank Holidays the platform was in regular daily use and the species list has been growing steadily since. It includes...
daphnia non-biting midge larvae (bloodworm)
greater and lesser water-boatmen mosquito larvae
water mites leeches
pond skaters water shrimps
water hoglouse bi valves
whirligig beatles pond and ramshorn snail
sprintails
Its also been interesting for everyone to find out more about the edgier inhabitants like the water scorpion and water stick insect. These ambush predators, armed with impressive pincers, lie in wait for their prey within pond vegetation. They have tubes at their rear ends through which they breathe. And no pond-dipping expedition is complete without sticklebacks which have also been abundant, and in late summer close up views of various dragon-flies.
And its not over yet. Despite the onset of autumn the pond is still very active, and is open throughout the half term. Its a great way of spending an afternoon, with or without the kids. Other activities over the holidays include Feed the Birds Day (Sat 29th) and Live and Deadly at Lodmoor Country Park (Sun30th), details on 01305 778313 or ask at the visitor centre.
Water scorpion one of the ponds top predators, note the daphnia around it.
Doh! The bottom picture is actually a water stick insect, the water scorpions shorter and meaner looking.