Urban Pond Conservation with The Biological Recording Company

Learn how to create, improve and manage urban ponds for amphibians and other wildlife.

Join this Skills For Ecology Webinar to gain technical skills useful in ecology and conservation roles, such as use of technology, field surveying and practical conservation skills.

Whether you’re a site manager, conservationist, wildlife gardener or ecologist, this session will equip you with the practical knowledge to create, improve and manage urban ponds for amphibians and other wildlife.

This 90-minute session includes a presentation and a live Q&A with Dr Rachel Walker, a London-based scientist and amphibian specialist, working in conservation research and monitoring. If you can’t attend the live event, bookers will also receive a link to the post-event recording – simply head to The Biological Recording Company Eventbrite page to book your tickets.

What will you learn?

• Understand the ecological role of ponds in urban green spaces: These small but important ecosystems can support high species richness and provide connectivity across a fragmented landscape.
• Compare different monitoring approaches to surveying urban ponds: Learn about the methods available to collect data about the whole pond ecosystem.
• Identify the key threats to urban ponds: Examine environmental data, biological evidence and knowledge of urban pressures to define the main stressors.
• Evaluate conservation management strategies to restore urban ponds: Review case studies to establish best-practice approaches.
• Assess urban green spaces to reconnect the freshwater network: Building resilience across the landscape for long-term species persistence.

The importance of urban ponds

Urban ponds play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and enhancing the quality of life in towns and cities. They provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, birds, and plants – many of which struggle to survive in heavily built-up environments. Beyond biodiversity, urban ponds deliver important ecosystem services: they help manage surface water and reduce flood risk, improve water quality by trapping pollutants, and contribute to climate resilience by cooling local areas during hot weather. Just as importantly, they offer accessible green and blue spaces that support human wellbeing, environmental education, and community engagement with nature.

Despite their value, urban ponds face significant and growing challenges. Pollution from road runoff, litter, and nutrient inputs can degrade water quality and lead to problems such as algal blooms and oxygen depletion. Many ponds are also threatened by neglect, infilling, or redevelopment as urban land pressures increase. Invasive species, artificial shading, and altered hydrology further degrade their ecological condition, while climate change intensifies risks through droughts and extreme rainfall events. Protecting and managing urban ponds requires coordinated planning, long-term monitoring, and active stewardship to ensure these small but crucial ecosystems continue to function and thrive.