Pigs create mini ponds in drive for wetlands

Pigs have been used to create thousands of miniature ponds in a park as part of a drive to increase wetland habitats.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said only 1% of Hertfordshire is covered in wetlands, which are vital habitats for wildlife and also offer protection from drought and flooding.

Introducing pigs to Panshanger Park is one of several schemes to raise that figure to 3% in the hope of tackling widespread species loss.

The Trust's conservation manager Tim Hill said: "It is in all our interests to protect the rare wetland habitats in this area, and also to create more of them so that all species, including humans, can thrive."

The Trust said protecting and restoring wetlands was a priority, "with nearly one in six species at risk of disappearing from Great Britain".

The Ironage pigs have been "rootling" the ground and creating thousands of mini ditches that fill with water. This provides a home for invertebrates which then feed wading birds, such as Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover.

In January, 40 new ponds were created at Hilfield Park Reservoir near Elstree, with funding provided by landowner Affinity Water.

These support rare dragonflies, water beetles and amphibians, which the Trust said were "vital for boosting the lower levels of the food chain".

Other efforts include major anti-flood works at Lemsford Springs to prevent lagoons and watercress beds being swamped by the River Lea, and regular work by conservation volunteers to keep wetlands healthy at Stocker's Lake Nature Reserve in Rickmansworth.

Mr Hill said: "Our wetlands are natural refuges and hotbeds for wildlife, and some of our most biodiverse and productive ecosystems.

"They also play a vital role in our everyday lives – protecting us from the consequences of flooding, storing carbon, reducing the air temperature and providing welcome places to relax and enjoy calming moments experiencing nature."

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