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Tiny Ponds: Nature's Climate Heroes
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Small garden ponds now recognized as vital habitats.
- Ponds help mitigate climate extremes like heatwaves and heavy rain.
- Over half of UK's ponds lost since the 1900s, with a revival underway.
Small water bodies, even those no larger than a paving slab, are emerging as powerful tools for environmental support. These humble ponds are transforming back gardens into thriving ecosystems, attracting diverse wildlife such as frogs and hedgehogs, and increasing bird activity.
Beyond their ecological benefits, these ponds are increasingly valued for their role in climate change mitigation. They provide essential cooling during periods of intense heat and help regulate water flow during heavy rainfall, alleviating pressure on urban drainage systems and aiding groundwater replenishment.
Despite a significant loss of ponds in regions like the UK, with over half disappearing since the early 1900s, a movement towards their restoration is gaining momentum. This revival emphasizes the critical, often overlooked, contribution of ponds, large and small, as vital habitats and potent climate solutions.
