Millers pond is a small council owned pond near to the centre of Southampton. It is a rare and vital habitat in this urbanised area and due to its location and the pressure it recieves from the public, it has been neglected and was in urgent need of restoration. The trees at Millers pond had been left to their own devices for many years and had begun to encroach almost half of the whole pond. This was causing major problems as the trees were shading the water blocking the sunlight from reaching any plants below. The reducing species and number of plants was impacting on the biodiversity of the pond and numbers of wildlife that used to be present were now dwindaling due to lack of habitat. The water quality of the pond was also affected with no habitat for zooplankton to thrive, algal blooms were common place and the pond was often green in appearance.

To assist in the turnaround of this troubled pond, Aquamaintain were drafted by the Environment agency and Southampton City Council to remove a number of the unsightly looking trees that were shading the area and blocking necessary light from reaching the plants below.

A variety of indigenous plant species were introduced in an attempt to increase the biodiversity of the pond that had before been just willow trees and create more habitat, particularly for the declining number of amphibians in the area. These areas were then caged to provide protection for the plants whilst they established. The plants are then transferred to other areas of the pond once they are mature and can thrive.

A floating reed bed was also installed to add much needed vegetation to the island area of Millers pond. This floating reed bed had the added feature of a zooplankton skirt beneath it to provide a safe habitat for  invertebrates from fish. This allows the depleted numbers of zooplankton at Millers pond to multiply. The increased population of zooplankton then feed upon the algae, controlling its levels and reducing the green appearance of the water.

Aquamaintain In the press

Environment Agency Catch Magazine, Southern region, 2010.