from previous years.
The range of other birds is enormous and can be explored by visitors to our Wetlands Centre overlooking the Pond, where explanatory panels provide an introduction to ornithology for young and old alike. There is one occasional visitor which we will all recognise from children’s books, namely the Kingfisher.
The pond is highly sensitive to changes in the quality and quantity of water and is fished responsibly by the Jersey Freshwater Angling Association, who return their catch to the water. The main threats to the habitat are low water levels, silting and eutrophication, which causes algae blooms and oxygen crashes. There has been a lot of trial and error to get the levels right and the pond tends to dry out in the summer unless sluice gates are used to hold water in. The sluice gates also reduce salt
water incursions when there are high spring tides
accompanied by storm surges. Silting is addressed by dredging from time to time.
The pond is fed by three different water courses and supplies are occasionally irregular as water is extracted for agriculture. Eutrophication happens when the flow of water is rich in nutrients, especially nitrate and phosphate fertilisers which run off from the land adjoining and overlooking St. Ouen’s Bay.
Algae blooms then occur, which in turn kill all the fish by causing oxygen levels to crash. This has happened in recent years, the last time in September 2013.
Tighter controls on the use of nitrates and on extraction of water will help to protect St. Ouen’s Pond.
We will certainly continue to do all we can to protect the special nature of St Ouen's Pond.
To visit the Pond and the National Trust for Jersey Wetlands Centre park at the free public car park next to Big Verns on La
Grande Route des Mielles. The Wetlands Centre is open during hours of daylight throughout the year. Admission is free to members and the public.
Marsh Harriers by Tony Wright
Enjoy nature in the raw...
...kit yourself out with the experts!
6a Colomberie, St. Helier, Jersey Tel:
878549 • Website:
www.trekplus.com 20/20 - The Environment Page 59
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