What is being restored at Mount Stewart?

Lost ghost ponds are being restored at Mount Stewart, transforming filled-in water features back into thriving habitats.

What rare species have been found in the restored ponds?

The restored ponds have seen the return of species not seen for decades, including the rare screech beetle, which is new to Northern Ireland.

How do restored ponds help local wildlife?

Restoring these ponds halts national trends of decline for local wildlife and provides crucial habitats for various species, including emperor dragonflies and Ramshorn snails.

Home / Environment / Nature's Secret: Ghost Ponds Bloom Anew

Nature's Secret: Ghost Ponds Bloom Anew

23 Jan

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Summary

Restored ghost ponds teeming with new species not seen for decades.
A rare screech beetle, new to Northern Ireland, appeared last year.
Restoring ponds halts national trends of decline for local wildlife.

At Mount Stewart, National Trust ranger Toby Edwards has undertaken a mission to restore the estate's lost ghost ponds, with seven successfully revived and over ten more awaiting restoration. These watery habitats, once filled in, are now a haven for nature, astonishingly reviving plant species dormant for up to 100 years.

Remarkably, these restored ponds have become breeding grounds for species not recorded in County Down for decades, and last year, the rare screech beetle, new to Northern Ireland, was discovered. The excavation process unearths ancient seeds within sediments, allowing long-lost flora to resurface rapidly.

This initiative is actively combating national trends of wildlife decline, with species like the emperor dragonfly and Ramshorn snails, crucial for controlling algae, now thriving. Edwards emphasizes that even small water features can support biodiversity, and encourages the public to create similar habitats in gardens to support local wildlife.