Pond dipping (1 Viewer)

Ashley beolens · Dec 27, 2012

With my kids I have always tried to interest them in wildlife, Birding, mothing, anything really and after 13 years of trying (eldest being born in 2000) finally one of the little blighters is interested in stuff.

My dear daughter may only be 3 but she loves "nature walks" (her words not mine) which is great and we are always out and about when she is not at school (pre) and I am not at work. We look at the birds, she helps me with my moth trap, we look at any insect we can find (she loves shield bugs), but I was hoping to take her to the local lake plunge in a net and see what comes out.

But does anyone know if you are allowed to? Can anyone try pond dipping? And would specialist equipment be needed or just one of those cheap nets and a bucket/tray (any book recomendations also greatly recieved)?

Obvioulsy this would be in the summer too blooming cold to be sticking things in a lake at this time of year, (I know bit early to be asking but work is slow today).

Anyway thanks in advance for any help, really appreciate any advice.

John Cantelo · Dec 27, 2012

Hi Ashley,

I'm sure that you're aware that many RSPB reserves with suitable habitat do pond dipping. At Dungeness - a long way from you but not so far for grandpa! - we do Birthday Parties and half term events.

The only 'specialist' equipment you really need are cheap nets (one 'daddy size for you & another smaller more child friendly one), any white container (small washing up bowl) or a small clear plastic aquarium, plastic tea spoons, tea strainers and a simple 'plastic viewer'. Alana, now part of NHBS, does a wide range of equipment. Hope this helps,

King Edward · Dec 27, 2012

A small kitchen sieve is also useful - a supermarket kitchen section (or pound shop etc.) is always a good place to look for basic equipment like that. Also a shallow white tray if you can find one, which shows up small animals well when you empty out your sieve/net contents.

For the actual dipping, you should have most success looking in very shallow marginal areas (i.e. 0 to a few cm deep), rather than deeper water, especially if there are water plants, fallen leaves, creeping grass etc. in the water. Try to avoid scooping up too much mud. There should be animals to find all year round, so no need to wait till summer.

For books, you could try the Collins guide 'Freshwater Life' by Greenhalgh & Ovenden, or a used copy of the excellent older version by Fitter & Manuel.

John Cantelo · Dec 27, 2012

King Edward said:
A small kitchen sieve is also useful - a supermarket kitchen section (or pound shop etc.) is always a good place to look for basic equipment like that. Also a shallow white tray if you can find one, which shows up small animals well when you empty out your sieve/net contents.

I'd agree that a small sieve can be useful hence recommending tea strainers - which 90+% of kids don't recognise. However, I find much larger sieves not terribly useful myself. Personally I don't like using shallow white trays either. In my view it's better to put a shallow amount of water in a washing up bowl. It's all too easy to knock a tray causing the water to slop around and preciptate small beasts onto the ground - which isn't too healthy for them. It's also easier to empty bowls rather than trays for the same reason. Bowls tend to be cheaper too!

King Edward · Dec 27, 2012

Maybe we are talking at cross purposes, but the tray is for emptying out your net/sieve contents (complete with pieces of water plant, dead leaves, pond sludge etc.) after you've been fishing about in the pond. You then poke about through the debris looking for small creatures which you can then transfer to another container for closer viewing and identification. After that you chuck the unwanted material back, rinse out the tray and try again.

It's also helpful to have a few smaller containers for putting the individual animals in (plus for transporting them if you want to take any back for further examination, although you may want to return everything to the pond at the end of the session.

Ashley beolens · Dec 29, 2012

Thanks for the advice so far guys I'm guessing that this means it is OK to do without permission?

And thanks for the tip about RSPB sites John, I know they and other nature reserves do such, but as a non driver the local lake is easier to get to

David FG · Dec 29, 2012

As far as permission goes, technically any pond/river/whatever will 'belong' to someone, and be on someone's land, so the owner could be unwelcoming - this obviously won't apply to organised or sanctioned 'pond dips' as mentioned above.

In practice, I have done this on and off over many years and no one has ever given me any trouble over it. Just respect that it is someone else's land, and be fairly discreet.

I think it would be a very churlish landowner who objected to you looking at tadpoles (or whatever) with your young daughter.

Chlidonias · Dec 30, 2012

not speaking from experience (being on the other side of the world and all) but isn't it illegal in the UK to interfere in any way with newts for example?

Dipping for invertebrates is fine but messing with the amphibians should be avoided I should think; unless there are seperate rules for separate species depending on their rarity, in which case where do tadpoles fit in?

David FG · Dec 30, 2012

Chlidonias said:
not speaking from experience (being on the other side of the world and all) but isn't it illegal in the UK to interfere in any way with newts for example?

Dipping for invertebrates is fine but messing with the amphibians should be avoided I should think; unless there are seperate rules for separate species depending on their rarity, in which case where do tadpoles fit in?

You are right - up to a point.

There are species which are 'Scheduled', and it is indeed an offence to interfere with them, and the Great Crested Newt is one of them (as is the Natterjack Toad). Other amphibian species are not protected (though it's illegal to sell or trade in them, I believe). So, in answer to your question, yes, there are separate rules for separate species.

However, the Scheduled species are, pretty much by definition, rare and thus not likely to be interfered with by anyone doing a bit of 'pond-dipping' with his young daughter in the local lake.

Ashley beolens · Jan 2, 2013

The local lake is the local parks trust (used to be part of the council) so is in the public sphere somewhere (although I think they are run as a charity now, who knows with local politics, they are probably a private company now who own all our local parks and will sell them to the highest bidder!) Pretty certain there are no Natajacks not so certain on Newts but I wouldn't think so, at least not rare ones. But I will make sure any we do spot will go straigh back where they came from and we will move somewhere else or stop altogether.

Thanks for the help guys, doubt we will do it much but it is another way to get her interested.

David FG · Jan 4, 2013

Ashley beolens said:
The local lake is the local parks trust (used to be part of the council) so is in the public sphere somewhere (although I think they are run as a charity now, who knows with local politics, they are probably a private company now who own all our local parks and will sell them to the highest bidder!) Pretty certain there are no Natajacks not so certain on Newts but I wouldn't think so, at least not rare ones. But I will make sure any we do spot will go straigh back where they came from and we will move somewhere else or stop altogether.

Thanks for the help guys, doubt we will do it much but it is another way to get her interested.

If there were anything rare I'm sure you'd know about it.

I wouldn't get hung up on the legal stuff: people have always pond-dipped and probably always will - it's great fun, and I'm sure you and your daughter will enjoy it. Go for it!

Who knows, it might start her on a life-long interest.

Roger P · Jan 6, 2013

I really do hate to mention the dreaded H&S, I think we suffer from having over protected both our children and the natural world, but be aware that particularly in urban water bodies there may be an issue with Weil's disease and so cuts and skin abrasions should be well covered. There are also algal and other issues with standing water that makes it a good idea to have something to clean up hands before fingers get sucked or sandwiches eaten.

I would say that you take sensible precautions but then go for it, in all seasons!
Try not to get too hung up on proper names, encourage your daughter to observe and perhaps make up her own suitable names. Can she recognise similar creatures and spot differences? Make up your own games to play. Can she find different things in different places, etc.

Perhaps controversially I would say that although living things must be respected it's also vitally important that your daughter feels comfortable with nature. I think I made my kids feel that Nature Reserves were a bit like museums where you had to be quiet and not touch, not the way to bring up future Christina Packhams!

Ashley beolens · Jan 15, 2013

Roger P said:
Try not to get too hung up on proper names, encourage your daughter to observe and perhaps make up her own suitable names.

This made me laugh, my daughter always makes up names, which is why there are now two geese named Greedy and Blackberry and a Heron named Marlon

Once again thanks for all the advice, I think when it warms up a bit we will gear up and see what we can find.

Pond dipping (1 Viewer)

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