Proposed Creation of a Wildlife Pond at Queen Elizabeth II High School.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 As part of the school's plan to develop its outdoor environmental education curriculum we wish to create a wildlife pond. It is our desire to extend the biodiversity on the school site and encourage the indigenous flora and fauna to flourish. It is hoped that studying the biodiversity of the pond area will educate our students and give them a deeper understanding of the local environment The pond would be situated on a piece of land across the road from the main school building, adjacent to an existing greenhouse.
2.0 The Pond
2.1 Construction and maintenance of the pond will be funded by the school and the School Association. 2.2 The pond would be excavated using a digger with access through the main entrance to the site from the main road. No additional access arrangements would be necessary. The excavated material will be used to construct an earth bund around the southern edge of the pond. The earth will be compacted and seeded with grass. 2.3 It will be lined with an LDPE 'triple-core' pond liner with underlay. The liner is UV-resistant, rot proof and comes with a 40-year guarantee. The pond is to include a dipping platform for educational purposes. 2.4 There is a gully/culvert that runs along the East and Southern boundary of the land (see fig. $2 \& 3$ ). The pond will be sighted a minimum of 10 meters away from this. On the far side of the culvert on the southern boundary are 3 trees (see fig. $4 \& 5$ ). The closest of these will be more than 15 meters from the edge of the pond.
3.0 The Dipping Platform
3.1 The dipping platform (see fig. $6 \& 7$ ) will be created on the northern side of the pond. This will extend into the pond. The platform will measure $3 \mathrm{~m} \times 1.5 \mathrm{~m}$. 3.2 On land, upright posts will be driven 1 m into the ground and set in post crete. Over the water the posts will be cut and will be fixed in/to cast concrete slabs which will in turn sit on top of the pond liner. The supplier of the platform has confirmed that this is acceptable. Alternatively, the platform could straddle the Northern end of the pond with all 4 legs being buried in the ground without the need to puncture the liner or create a concrete slab. 3.3 The deck of the platform will be a maximum of 30 cm above ground level. Stringers at regular intervals along the platform will support the structure. A safety rail at the pond side of the platform will be 50 cm high to allow pond dipping to take place.
3.4 Safety rails on either side of the platform will be 100 cm high. The dipping platform will be constructed entirely from 100% HDPE recycled plastic so not only is it kind to the environment, but it will not rot. The cost of the platform will be £799 +VAT and will be purchased from The Hideout House Company Ltd. Further details can be found here.
Fig. 1: View of proposed site looking South towards PeelGolf Course. {{image:115428}}
Fig. 2: View looking West. Culvert running along the Southern border.
A photograph showing a green grassy field with a line of bare trees and a hedgerow in the background.
Fig.3: View Looking North. Culvert running along Eastern border.
Fig 4: View south. 3 trees on the far side of culvert (on Peel Golf Course Land).
A photograph showing a grassy ditch or stream running through a rural field with trees in the background.
Fig 5: Close up view of 3 trees on far side of culvert (on Peel Golf Course Land)
Fig 6: Pond Dipping Platform similar to proposed design.
A photograph showing a rural site with bare trees and grassy banks, likely the location for the proposed wildlife pond.
Fig 7: Pond Dipping Platform similar to proposed design.
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