Life Returns: Creating Wetland Habitats at Seven Fields

How small water features boost biodiversity across the reserve

While the historic Twin Ponds are long gone, Seven Fields’ conservation efforts include maintaining and creating small wetland features. Haydon Brook provides permanent water, but seasonal puddles, damp hollows, and managed wet areas create vital breeding sites for amphibians. The Freshwater Habitats Trust’s 2025 research shows that even small ponds (under 2m²) can support 70+ species. Seven Fields’ damp areas host Common Frogs, Smooth Newts, and numerous aquatic invertebrates. Dragonflies and Damselflies patrol the brook in summer, including Common Blue Damselflies and Broad-bodied Chasers. Creating a small wildlife pond in your garden (just 1m across) can extend the reserve’s wetland network, providing stepping stones for aquatic species across North Swindon’s urban landscape.