A LOCAL charity is encouraging people to put a pond in their garden to save wildlife.
The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, part of The Wildlife Trusts, has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to form the group Wild About Gardens.
The group is trying to raise awareness over the importance gardens have in supporting declining species of wildlife and, as part of their campaign, are asking people to create a makeshift pond in their garden.
The trust said installing a type of pond benefits threatened species by allowing frogs to breed, giving hedgehogs a source of water and attracting insects and bats.
Ellie Brodie, Senior Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts said: “It’s such fun to help wildlife with a pocket pond – it needn’t be big.
"All you need to do is fill an old sink or washing-up bowl with rainwater, plant it up and make sure that wildlife can get in and out – it’s easy."
Helen Bostock, Senior Horticultural Advisor at the RHS said: “Ponds and other water features are an attractive focal point in any garden and are a real haven for wildlife.
"Even cheap container ponds made from upcycled materials will quickly be colonised by a whole host of creatures and help form a living chain of aquatic habitats across the neighbourhood.”
More information about how to install a pond can be found at wildaboutgardens.org.uk
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