Dewpond #1

I thought I'd start a new series - on the dewponds of the Sussex Downs. Dewponds are said to date from medieval times and were originally lined with an impermeable layer of puddled clay so that they would collect water (mainly from rain rather than dew) for livestock on the chalk Downs. Many, like this one on Saxon Down above Lewes, were later relined with concrete but this tends to crack and, if its not repaired, they can no longer retain rainwater. Water is now piped up onto the Downs to fill metal water troughs but a few dewponds still serve their original function and some have even been relined using modern materials. Those that do retain water can provide an important habitat. I've seen frog and toad spawn in dewponds as well as damselflies and dragonflies. I've even heard that some hold populations of great crested newts.