ARC's review of a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about ponds, their ecology and conservation

Ponds, Pools and Puddles 

Jeremy Biggs & Penny Williams. 

New Naturalist Series no. 148, William Collins.  

ISBN 978-0-00-220085-1 (hardback); ISBN 978-0-00-870300-4 (paperback)

Pages 614

Ponds have a significant place in the British landscape, ecologically, socially, and economically. However, until recently, their study has been neglected, with interests in freshwater focusing on rivers and lakes. Only when people started looking did the sheer diversity and biological richness of these water-filled holes become apparent. As a result, the importance of the decline in pond significance through various human activities and the serious ongoing threats of degradation through pollution has historically been overlooked

Ponds, Pools and Puddles introduces itself as the New Naturalist Series volume that has been longest in gestation, with nearly 80 years elapsing since the idea was first mooted to the publication of the finished product. Jeremy Biggs and Penny Williams are champions for these habitats, with their undeniable knowledge, passion, and scientific rigor shining through the pages of this highly informative and easily readable book.

It is the convention nowadays to refer to an exhaustive investigation as a "deep dive," and fittingly this book is just that: a thorough review of ponds and the biodiversity they harbour. The scale of the endeavour is staggering, and running to 614 pages, the book is not one to digest over a couple of coffee breaks. Unlike ephemeral ponds, the text does not become too dry; instead, the authors maintain an engaging tone, inviting readers to wade into topics that they might not have previously explored. Great crested newts are labelled as the "pantomime villains of British nature conservation," and the authors explain the various nuances of legal protection and status that have at times been a bugbear for those championing this species. The international perspective on ponds is welcome, and those interested in pond conservation will find plenty to challenge their thinking or inspire new perspectives. Assertions are generally well backed up with references. Chapters include well-chosen photos, diagrams, and neatly summarized data that help illustrate and break up the text.

The different chapters take you on a journey of discovery through the very definitions of what a pond is, how they are formed, the chemical, geographic, and biological classification of pond types, and the life within them. They describe in detail an enormous richness of plants and animal life – including a generous section on amphibians. They reflect on the many threats and opportunities presented for the quality and diversity of ponds and challenge often-quoted misconceptions that have slowed progress in understanding ponds and their conservation. The final chapter considers the monitoring, management, and creation of ponds and the approaches that are used. It provides a comprehensive overview and a well-evidenced description of the likely outcomes of these, both intended and unintended, and points to what is needed to ensure the long-term persistence of high quality, biodiverse ponds in the British countryside.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about ponds. The breadth and depth of information in it will encourage you, in a more informed way, to join the authors in their quest to see a wider enjoyment and appreciation of ponds and to secure their conservation for future generations. This book provides a valuable contribution to that goal.