There has been a great deal of progress in improving the until recently neglected M’Lady’s Pond near Castor and Ailsworth.
Reserve warden Mike Horne reports that. he has found another three Bee Orchid rosettes where the rank grassland was cut down at the beginning of September, which makes around 17.
Also spotted have been threeLesser Celandine plants, nearby. The 1,000 bluebell bulbs planted in mid-September are all now making an appearance, and in the summer months seeding will take place to make for an even better display in 2026.
The dozen or so mature Ox-Eye Daisy plug plants put in last year are also doing well.
Hundreds of new aquatic plants are thriving throughout the pond, including lots of Stonewort and Water Crowfoot. There also clumps of frogspawn and Smooth newts.
Mike said: “Overall, I’m really pleased how well the area has responded in just a few short months, and I’m hopeful that it will continue to develop into an attractive – and very useful, nature reserve over the coming months and years.”