James Tuttiett Charitable Trust
James Tuttiett Charitable Trust
About © South Downs Trust

Pounds for Ponds

Over the last year, the South Downs Trust have been hard at work with their Pounds for Ponds Initiative.  70% of ponds in the South Downs are in poor condition or have vanished from the landscape altogether, leaving large areas without surface water.  Collaborating with partners across the South Downs, they aim to restore a network of 100 ponds.

With at least 32 ponds planned or underway, they are well on track toward their 100 pond target. This work is not only reversing habitat loss but also strengthening community ties to nature and increasing climate resilience across the South Downs.

The Pounds for Ponds initiative is now a permanent annual grant fund, which stands as a flagship model for landscape-scale, community-linked nature recovery which the James Tuttiett Charitable Trust is delighted to continue supporting.
 
One such refurbishing was the restoration of a much-neglected village pond at East Tisted, near Alton. The project included appropriate replacement of inappropriate planting with native species that encourage the re-establishment of South Downs flora and fauna. The restored pond now means that the green area is used for community events such as village picnics and has increased the range of habitats in the locality.
 
While it is still too early to quantify long-term ecological changes, early indicators are promising. Anecdotal evidence from local volunteers, schools, and rangers shows increased activity from frogs, dragonflies, bats, and bird species, including red-listed turtle doves and yellowhammers.

A key success has been the speed and enthusiasm with which landowners, schools, and communities who have engaged in the project once funding became available. Many ponds had been awaiting restoration for years, and once financial and technical barriers were removed, implementation progressed rapidly. This momentum has created a valuable platform for future work, particularly under the Downs to the Sea programme.

To track impact effectively the Trust has introduced a Biodiversity Monitoring Framework to enable rangers, farmers, and volunteers to record consistent observations. This is complemented by new digital tools, including GIS mapping and automated data capture.

They have also appointed a dedicated Finance and Impact Officer to support robust reporting, cost tracking, and comparative analysis across multiple projects and pond types. This role will also support refinement of delivery methods for greater efficiency.

The JTCT looks forward to watching how this vital project continues to benefit both the natural landscape and communities.