Farmers, landowners and communities across mid-Wales are working with Freshwater Habitats Trust to create ponds and wetlands that will bring clean water, richer wildlife and opportunities for people to connect with nature.

With its partners, the charity is creating 20 new ponds and three new wetlands across the River Irfon catchment. Due to be completed in March, they will provide high-quality, unpolluted habitat for freshwater plants and animals that are declining across much of the UK.

Stretching from Abergwesyn to Builth Wells, the River Irfon catchment has been identified by Freshwater Habitats Trust as an Important Freshwater Area – one of the places in England or Wales that is richest in freshwater biodiversity. While parts of the catchment support exceptional wildlife, this is limited to the streams, ponds and fens that have clean water and are well managed. Like many areas of Wales and England, many small freshwaters have become polluted or have been lost completely from the landscape, leaving freshwater species struggling to survive.

The new habitats are part of Freshwater Habitats Trust’s strategy to build the Freshwater Network: a network of wilder, wetter, cleaner, more connected freshwaters across England and Wales. By creating more clean waterbodies and protecting existing wildlife hotspots, the charity aims to halt and reverse the decline in freshwater biodiversity.

A key focus of the Freshwater Network is on small waters, such as ponds, wetlands and headwater streams. Although often overlooked, these habitats make up 80% of the freshwater environment and collectively support greater biodiversity – including more rare and threatened species – than large rivers and lakes.

Many of the new ponds and wetlands in the Irfon catchment have been created on farmland, with farmers and smallholders working closely with Freshwater Habitats Trust to identify locations which are unproductive for farming but can make a difference for wildlife.

Freshwater Habitats Trust Project Manager and local farmer Geraint Watkins said: “These new ponds and wetlands could be game-changing for wildlife in the catchment. Our priority is to add more clean water habitats to the landscape, providing freshwater plants and animals with the conditions they need to thrive.

“It’s been brilliant to have had such an enthusiastic response from farmers, landowners and smallholders, as well as the wider local community. We’re so grateful to everyone who’s got involved in creating these habitats, which will make such a difference to the landscape and its wildlife.”

Caroline Wilson worked with Freshwater Habitats Trust to create a new pond on her farm at Llangammach Wells. She said: "Setting up a pond on our farm in partnership with the Freshwater Habitats Trust in 2025 turned out to be a truly transformative adventure, not just for the land but for everyone involved.

“From the outset, the Trust’s team brought remarkable knowledge and enthusiasm. It was a truly collaborative process. We found the experience both enlightening and rewarding. We quickly saw how a well-designed habitat pond could support local biodiversity, offering a safe haven for native wildlife.

“This hands-on experience made it clear how ponds can enrich not only the farm’s environment but also contribute to a healthier, more vibrant landscape beyond our boundaries.”

As well as supporting wildlife, the project is creating new spaces for people to enjoy and learn about freshwater nature. Two new community ponds have been developed in Tirabad and Llanwrtyd Wells, enhancing local green spaces.

Karen Coldrick, a smallholder and member of Tirabad Village Hall Committee, approached Freshwater Habitats Trust to develop a community pond. She said: “When I joined Tirabad Village Hall group I was disappointed to see the state of the four-acre site in which the hall sits. With ideas from local residents, and support from Keep Wales Tidy and the Woodland Trust, we have created a community orchard — and the pond which we’ve created with Freshwater Habitats Trust has been the perfect addition.

“The site is very wet, but with local people involved, we managed to get the grounds into better shape whilst retaining a lot of varied habitat. The Freshwater Habitats Trust team have been very supportive and easy to work with and the pond seems to be establishing well - despite biblical amounts of rain, freezing temperatures and snow!

“The pond is situated near to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so there is a huge variety of flora and fauna in the area. It has attracted interest from people in the village who are keen to see how it develops and help with monitoring and maintenance. We hope that visitors to the hall will also be able to enjoy the pond.

“We are excited to see how the whole area will work, what species arrive and when the first frogspawn appears!”

A Special Area of Conservation designated for its exceptional freshwater biodiversity, the River Irfon Catchment includes one of the few remaining UK Freshwater Pearl Mussel populations.

Freshwater Habitats Trust CEO Professor Jeremy Biggs said: “Building the Freshwater Network means protecting the best remaining wildlife habitats, while also building out from these hotspots to bring more clean water back to our landscapes. In the River Irfon catchment, we’ve been focusing on looking after the high-quality stretches of rivers, streams, ditches, ponds, lakes and wetlands, as well as finding opportunities to create new wildlife habitats.

“The River Irfon catchment has many unpolluted habitats and a wide range of freshwater species. By working with local people to create new ponds and wetlands, we have an opportunity to make a positive, lasting difference for freshwater wildlife.”

The River Irfon Catchment Project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.