Never the type to put our feet up, our latest project on Bannisters’ Farm is to restore an old dew pond that’s been dry for many years.

A dew pond is an artificial pond used for watering livestock and thanks to some research carried out by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, we’ve discovered that ours dates back as far as 1856.

Despite the name, it’s believed that the main source of water is rain rather than dew. Dug in a flat cone shape, the ponds were lined with various materials to stop the water escaping.

According to the YWT’s Jon Traill, who carried out the survey: “Detailed accounts exist as to which materials were used for dew pond creation on the Wolds, with clay, lime, lime mortar and chalk all listed, but there appears to be no one definitive method. Typically the pond would be lined in layers, with up to five alternating materials.”

It seems that Wolds dew pond builders were secretive about their methods too, we’ve heard that one local builder lined his dew ponds at night time to stop anyone discovering exactly how he lined his ponds!

Although work on the Bannisters’ Farm dew pond is still ongoing, you can see from the latest picture (below) that it’s retaining water – there’s certainly been plenty of rain about to fill it!

We’re looking forward to observing, over the coming months, what kind of aquatic plants, insects and other creatures make their home in the newly resorted watering hole.