Community urged to dip toes into project

Monitor wildlife in ponds

A community project to help monitor and protect local pond wildlife was relaunched at the South Inch in Perth on September 16.

The new and improved Pooling Our Ponds project was created by the Tayside Amphibian and Reptile Group (TayARG).

It utilises ‘citizen science’ to help collect data while engaging communities in their local environment.

It features a welcome pack with resources that everyone in the local community can use.

Dundee University student intern Lucy Briscoe has completely updated the Pooling Our Ponds citizen science survey from its original launch back in 2013 and this time round, prepared the easy- to- use welcome pack which explains how to take part.

Lucy said: “In the past schools, families and day care groups have all been involved in this project.

“Through community action we can make a safe haven in our ponds for all types of wildlife as well as monitor invasive species to ensure the local wildlife thrives in an ever-changing Scotland.

“Relaunching this project will allow people of all ages closer access to a world not usually available to them.”

Catherine Lloyd from the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership said: “Ponds chosen to study can range from those in public parks, private gardens and in the countryside.

“All that’s needed is to check each pond with brief quarterly pond-dipping sessions – anyone can easily learn what to do and monitoring the pond’s health and the wildlife in it can be fun as well as educational.”

She adds: “We really hope families, work colleagues and schools will get involved.

“If there are care homes and sheltered housing with their own ponds, we also hope they will join in.”

To download the welcome pack go to www. taysidebiodiversity.co.uk

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Data The Tayside Amphibian and Reptile Group (TayARG) relaunching a community project called Pooling Our Ponds at South Inch pond in Perth on September 16