#PondWatch 2024 will take place online on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June.
Follow us on social media for a weekend of pond power!
We are encouraging everyone to get out and explore their local ponds whether they are lucky enough to have one in their garden or have some in their local park or nature reserves. Share your photos and stories on social media!
PondWatch Pledge 2024
Join us on Instagram Saturday 8th June @ 10:30am for a Live”Stream”
Can’t get to the dragonflies this weekend, we will bring the dragonflies to you. Join us on Instagram for an hour of stream induced joy and calm. Listen to the birdsong and hopefully watch Beautiful Demoiselles dancing in the sunlight. You can also share your dragonfly sightings and ask questions which will be answered by the team.
Join us this Saturday on Instagram
We want to hear from you!
For #PondWatch you and your ponds are always the star of the show!
For PondWatch weekend we want to showcase your ponds over our social media channels, providing excellent pond-spiration! So get in touch via one of our social media channels and use #PondWatch in your pond and dragonfly pictures if you want to be featured for 2024.
Take a look at the latest pond stories on our Pond Ponderings blog
Get Involved
Looking for a PondWatch adventure?
Get exploring this PondWatch weekend and visit a local wetland site!
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our interactive map for excellent wetland sites, including Dragonfly Hotspots.
What’s on at Hotspots?
- At our Dragonfly Hotspot RSPB Conwy in North Wales you can celebrate the power of ponds all month with the Pondemonium Quiz Trail! Available everyday, 10am–3pm. Go on a ponderful journey to discover some amazing pond dwelling creatures and learn about their mysterious lives below the water! No booking required. £1 per quiz sheet. Entry fees apply.
- It’s Wildlife Watch at Whisby Nature Park in Lincolnshire on Saturday 8th!
The perfect activity for mini-pondwatchers – perfect for kids aged 5-11 years to learn more about nature in wild and unconventional ways, whether its bees and bluebells or crafts and conservation.
Take a look at their website to book.
- Keep PondWatch going and visit Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre on Monday 10th for Wild About Insects!
An exploration of the meadows to discover the wealth of insect life, from bees and wasps to ladybirds, shield bugs, dragonflies and butterflies. A chance to have a close look at these fabulous creatures.
Click here to book your place.
30 minute challenge
With busy lives and so much going on in the world it can be hard to find time for ourselves to unwind. Try and find half an hour on PondWatch Saturday and Sunday to spend time outdoors, no matter the weather, alone or with friends/family. If your can, visit your local ponds and enjoy the wonderful spring wildlife you encounter.
To find out more about the benefits of being outdoors and how to look after your mental health visit Mind.org.uk
Learn along the way
Freshwater wetlands are some of the most diverse place in Britain!
Take a closer look and you’ll be surprised by what you find; for example, did you know that the largest British Dragonfly, the Emperor, lays its eggs in garden ponds, or that there is such a thing as a Water Stick Insect?!
Please share your stories and photos with the BDS and our fellow freshwater charities.
Want to know more about a species? Let us know and we’ll do our best to help!
You can find us on:
Some of our wildlife friends who can give you information on . . .
Invertebrates: Buglife
Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies: Riverflies
Butterflies and Moths: Butterfly Conservation
Amphibians and Reptiles: ARC
Birds: RSPB and WWT
General wildlife: Wildlife Trust
Dragon Spotting
Want to identify the dragonflies visiting your pond? Our website has lots of great resources to help you on your identification journey.
Take a look at the great video by Wildlife Garden Project, which is a great way to get started with some of the most common pond visitors.
Meet our #PondWatch Partners
Our partners will be sharing their pond insights and stories over the weekend so make sure to follow them.
Green Fingered George
Our Youth Ambassador George has a passionate for wildlife garden- check out mega pond and you’ll see what we mean!
Joel Ashton
Joel is an expert pond creator and has been featured on BBC Springwatch and BBC Gardeners’ World.
Neil Philips – aka Pondman
Neil is the Country Dragonfly Recorder for Essex, co-host of UK Wildlife Podcast and an excellent photographer
David aka Urbanponds101
Showcasing the power of urban ponds and documenting his garden wildlife in South East London.
Steve White
A wildlife film maker and dragonfly enthusiast, Steve has been supporting #PondWatch since it began, sharing underwater footage from his garden pond.
Previously on #PondWatch . . .
Pond Doctor
Watch our Pond Doctor Daniele Muir tackle pond conundrums and questions in this online surgery from 2020-2021.
Watch the whole series on our YouTube Channel
Garden and Pond Guidance
We have a range of advice and leaflets on managing your garden for Dragonflies, including digging a pond: See here
Pondcast
Our volunteer Steve White has produced a mini-series of Pondcasts for PondWatch 2021. Let’s go on an underwater tour of his pond!
Childrens' activities
We have a range of learning and craft activities to keep you entertained over the #PondWatch weekend.
Image credits:
Water-lily by Suzy Hazelwood