After nearly a year on from the first pond enhancements Radford Meadows, the project team has been out visiting sites to monitor their progress. Most of the multiple ponds we established have done a good job retaining water despite the prolonged drier weather we’ve had this year which has been some of worst on record according to the Met Office who reported spring 2025 as being the sunniest since 1910. The areas around the ponds are greening up nicely, with wetland flora like flowering rush successfully establishing. When visiting Kingsmead Marsh Local Nature Reserve, our Living Floodplains Manager, Victoria Bunter, spotted damselflies and a broad bodied chaser dragonfly; species we want to see thriving in these wetland habitats that make up an important part of the food chain as predators of smaller insects, as well as food for birds and amphibians.  

When visiting Kingsmead Marsh Local Nature Reserve, our Living Floodplains Manager, Victoria Bunter, spotted damselflies and a broad bodied chaser dragonfly; species we want to see thriving in these wetland habitats that make up an important part of the food chain as predators of smaller insects, as well as food for birds and amphibians. 

The wildflower meadows across the town are coming along, with some challenges due to the seasonal winter flooding and inclement weather. When planning for projects such as this, we take these environmental risks into consideration, having extra seed to “top-up” areas which need it the following sowing season. 

Thanks to our very hardworking midweek volunteers, the woodland at Kingston Pool Covert North has seen the installation of new boardwalk for residents local to the woodland. This wet woodland will always flood, but the boardwalks help make access a little better for people to enjoy their local green space. We’re looking forward to monitoring the ecology on these sites for years to come, enhancing our grasslands, wetlands, and waterways in Stafford.