Wales & West Utilities supports new wildlife pond at Exeter allotments
A new pond and bog garden is being created at the Cowick Lane Community Gardens, thanks to support from gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities.
With allotment gardeners across the site becoming increasingly concerned about the decline in biodiversity, the pond and bog garden is the latest wildlife-friendly initiative that plot-holders are implementing to boost the biodiversity in the area.
Over the past year, plot-holders have come together to plant pollinator-attractant flowers, build bird boxes and bug hotels, whilst leaving areas to grow wild, and creating small ponds, where space allows.
Although ponds are particularly valuable for wildlife, space on individual allotment plots is often limited. However, the shared Community Garden at Cowick Lane offers a unique opportunity to create a larger pond and bog garden, providing an important habitat for frogs, toads, newts and insects, while also encouraging and inspiring other gardeners to introduce smaller ponds on their own plots.
The project is part of a wider Biodiversity Boost initiative run by the St Thomas Allotments Association, which manages 11 allotment sites along the west side of the River Exe and represents around 700 plot holders.
Wales & West Utilities is supporting the project as part of its commitment to improve the areas in which it works and to help improve local biodiversity. The donation from the gas distribution network is linked to an investment project which is seeing gas pipes in the Barley Lane area of Exeter upgraded to keep the gas flowing now, and to prepare for the use of greener gases, including biomethane and hydrogen in the future.
The donation contributes to the cost of materials for the biodiversity project, including a pond liner and the installation of amphibian shelters such as frog, toad and newt homes.
Becky Wells, Lead for the Biodiversity Boost Project for St Thomas Allotments Association, said:
“This project builds on our previous efforts and will create a thriving habitat for wildlife while showing how productive growing spaces and nature can exist side by side.
“We are delighted to have the support from Wales & West Utilities. It’s vital in helping us deliver something that will benefit both wildlife and the local community for years to come.”
Louise Alfaresi, Wales & West Utilities First Line Manager for Exeter, explains:
“Wales & West Utilities is supporting the project as part of its commitment to improve the areas in which it works and to help improve local biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services.
“It’s great to see the team at Cowick Lane Community Gardens coming together to play their part, and projects like this are so important to help leave a positive environmental legacy.”
The project demonstrates how community-led environmental initiatives and infrastructure work can work together to deliver lasting benefits for people and nature.
Wales & West Utilities’ work in the area is essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.
If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 immediately. Trained engineers are available 24/7 to respond and keep you safe.