Water on Tamarisk Farm

There are several ponds and wet places on the farm, but few are permanent. Before the mains water arrived this would have placed serious restrictions on the use of the land, and even now there are some parts of the farm which are dependent on natural water supplies which are not continuous.

Cogden

In the winter, there are two small streams and a large flooded reed bed, while in the summer the only natural water at Cogden is the ditch between the reed bed and the beach, and even this dries in some years. This ditch is called the "Tank Trap" because (perhaps) it was enlarged during the war as defence against landing craft.

The Home Farm

There are many seasonal springs and oozes 1 on the clay slopes including one flowing from the lime kiln 2. There is one small but permanent spring 3 which together with carefully planned field drains and ditches feeds the old mill pond 4 and the new pond. This pond was created in 1991 to provide an area of year round open water beside the nature reserve 5 for the benefit of water birds. This was done because though the reserve floods in the winter it dries in the summer and so, generally, does the ditch beside the beach 6. In the 1970's we attempted to create permanent water but failed when the army blew up two very small ponds 7 instead of the one larger one they had planned. These ponds, which dry in the summer are nonetheless a valuable habitat and the only place we have seen eels on the farm.

Labour-in-Vain

There are a good scattering of ponds here 8 which we believe were created in 1800's using water from field drains to provide for stock. It is possible that they used to be better than they now are. In our observation, only one 9 is permanent. The pond in Tulk's Hill 10 has a more varied marginal flora than the others and lasts well into the summer. We believe there is a private water supply in the scrub in Tulk's Hill, but haven't yet found it!

The wet patches, ditches and ponds all, however small and temporary, give a chance for more variety of wildlife. This is obvious for the big ponds and reed beds but it is also true of the small seepages of ground water. These encourage different grasses, rushes and other plants, which in turn provide different microclimates and food for insects and other small animals which then provide food for other larger ones. We have newts in the ponds, including great crested newts which are nationally rare but frequent here, a few frogs and toads, water voles in some of the ditches and ponds and a lovely range of birds nesting and feeding by the water.