The "big Thaw"

[eeyore]

There are various threads running currently about people having frozen ponds - so i figured i'd highlight this in a seperate thread rather tha adding it to all of them

the PCT are runnig a survey called the "big thaw" to assess the impactthe cold weather has - and i'd urge anyone with a pond to take part

The big thaw linky

[RobSutton]

Sounds like a good thing to do - we lost most of our dragonflies and damselflies after last winter's big freeze and I think it must be to do with the length of time the ponds were frozen for. But that's only my personal feeling about what happened seeing the results from a widespread survey like this will be very interesting. So I'd add my encouragement to get involved as well.

[Kayleigh]

Thanks for posting Eeyore,
I have not noticed anything dead in my pond I hope it stays that way but its hard to see the bottom its heavily planted.
I have filled the in the form and added a pic and email address..

[Malcolm Banks]

I had a close look in my pond this afternoon and so far nothing dead spotted. On the contrary, below the thin film of ice from the previous night's frost, the water was teeming with daphnia and early stadium damselfly nymphs - a really encouraging sign. I did see a single backswimmer slowly sculling around in the melted area and snails, waterfleas and surface flies moving around. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but I still find it marvellous that these creatures can survive the extended freezing we have had and still come up smiling.
Thanks for the Big Thaw link Eeyore, I'll have a look
M

[Deb London]

Thanks for the link eeyore.

Nothing much was dead in my pond, but aren't too many species in it anyway (having had to introduce everything in the first place and now, with the amphibs breeding well, being loath to add else for fear of disease; dragonflies etc don't find my ponds to be suitable.).

[Malcolm Banks]

Thanks again for the Big Thaw link Eeyore.
Had a look at the PC site and duly filled and submitted in the Big Thaw questionnaire. The site does contain a deal of useful information particularly in relation to the surveys (Big Dips and Big Thaw). The summaries of these survey results are very good, and I would be very interested in seeing some of the collated responses to all of the questions. Unfortunately though this has to be done piecemeal by asking specific questions of the PC experts by e-mail. I can understand that addresses of some sensitive sites may not be available to public acccess, but cannot see anythng in the basic questions, the answers to which might cause a problem if opened to public access on a read-only basis.
Anyway, on the grounds that much of the data for these surveys is provided by the pondloving public, I have asked them if it is possible to access the collated data. I would be interested to hear if there are other pondlovers on WAB who might have a similar interest in the data?
M

[Kayleigh]

I had a poke around in mine and found a water slater that's all but I cant see much in the summer if things hide in the bottom.
I didn't know the tench had bred I never saw the fry only a fish smaller than the ones I put in then wished I hadn't and cant get the things out now as I cant find them.
I only saw that as a frog was attached to it last spring trying to mate with it..