What lies beneath – families have been finding out

Youngsters have been having fun finding out what lurks beneath the water in local ponds.

They were taking part in pond-dipping sessions with the Bury Accessible Natural Greenspace Project, at Boz Park in Whitefield, Chesham Local Nature Reserve and at Redbank Lodges in Radcliffe.

Jacqui Goggs, BANG officer, said: “Adults and children alike were fascinated by cased caddisflies, newts, tadpoles and dragonfly nymphs, not to mention leeches. Parents said they didn’t realise how many different creatures live in the water and the ponds are like a miniature world that you never see.”

The pond-dipping platform at Redbank Lodges was installed last year thanks to funding from Six Town Housing and the BANG Project, which is funded by Bury Council and Access to Nature, a scheme run by Natural England and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. 

More pond-dipping sessions are being organised for the summer holidays. For details, call Jacqui Goggs on 0161 253 7764 or email j.goggs@bury.gov.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 June 2013.

Picture attached: Will Hayes (aged 6) pond-dipping at Redbank Lodges with the Mellor family in the background.