The mystery of the invisible dewpond

A long-lost dewpond has been brought back to life in Langton Matravers near Swanage, after lying hidden for years.

The invisible pond was discovered when the Langton area came under the spotlight during investigations for the Purbeck Important Ponds Project. 

Led by Dorset Wildlife Trust, the project, funded by Biffaward, the Environment Agency and the Dorset AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), was started earlier this year to safeguard one of the UK’s foremost regions for pond biodiversity. 

Purbeck ponds were already known to be an aquatic hotspot for wildlife, including nearly all of the known British dragonfly species and the rare great crested newt, but it has emerged that Langton Matravers is one best of the best areas for pond life.  

As pond detectives, including conservationists, landowners and local volunteers, narrowed down their search, National Trust warden, Jonathan Kershaw, who knew of a possible restoration site, showed the project an ancient dewpond buried under a thicket of bushes in the corner of a field in Langton Matravers.

It took two days for the team of volunteers to uncover not only a beautiful stone-lined pond, complete with its natural spring, but also live ammunition, which was removed by the police.