Jeremy Biggs
@jeremybiggs.bsky.social
CEO at Freshwater Habitats Trust and a Director of the Newt Conservation Partnership; co-author of Ponds, Pools and Puddles: https://www.harperreach.com/products/ponds-pools-and-puddles-collins-new-naturalist-library-jeremy-biggspenny-williams-978000870300
The Freshwater Network......the background detail.
📢 A new study, published in @aer-ese-bes.bsky.social, sets out the vision for the Freshwater Network – our new national strategy to tackle the crisis facing freshwater species – and identifies the 24 most important landscapes for freshwater wildlife in England and Wales:
Building the Freshwater Network: A new approach to the identification of freshwater biodiversity hotspots and restoration opportunities in England and Wales
Existing water environment policy, mostly focused on the siloed management of large waters, has not succeeded in restoring freshwater biodiversity in England and Wales. This study outlines the Freshw...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The Freshwater Network......the background detail.
Interesting! Roughly where is this Alex?
A new shallow pond scraped into dull arable - first year it produces Jersey Cudweed Gnaphalium luteoalbum, Grass-poly Lythrum hyssopifolia and Cavernous Crystalwort Riccia cavernosa! Interesting dynamism in landscapes never fails to deliver #NorfolkFloraGroup #wildflowerhour
July 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Interesting! Roughly where is this Alex?
Reposted by Jeremy Biggs
This pond on industrial site was full of well-grown Crested Newt tadpoles. Always struck by what big, chunky, bull-necked creatures they are compared to little wizened metamorphs they become after leaving the water. One benefit of these brownfield ponds is no dog access=no insecticide contamination.
July 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
This pond on industrial site was full of well-grown Crested Newt tadpoles. Always struck by what big, chunky, bull-necked creatures they are compared to little wizened metamorphs they become after leaving the water. One benefit of these brownfield ponds is no dog access=no insecticide contamination.
Reposted by Jeremy Biggs
Water pH is highly dynamic so to say a pond or small lake "has a pH of X" is misleading. At the moment I'm getting a lot of unexpectedly high readings. This is due to intense photosynthesis in strong sunshine - plants (macrophytes or algae) use up dissolved CO2 (H2CO3), reducing acidity/raising pH.
July 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Water pH is highly dynamic so to say a pond or small lake "has a pH of X" is misleading. At the moment I'm getting a lot of unexpectedly high readings. This is due to intense photosynthesis in strong sunshine - plants (macrophytes or algae) use up dissolved CO2 (H2CO3), reducing acidity/raising pH.
Reposted by Jeremy Biggs
Big conversations about small catchments 💡
Yesterday's Headstart event brought together leading figures from the water and environmental sectors to move forward on a strategy to clean up Britain’s water systems – by starting at the top.
Find out more: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/headsta...
Yesterday's Headstart event brought together leading figures from the water and environmental sectors to move forward on a strategy to clean up Britain’s water systems – by starting at the top.
Find out more: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/headsta...
May 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Big conversations about small catchments 💡
Yesterday's Headstart event brought together leading figures from the water and environmental sectors to move forward on a strategy to clean up Britain’s water systems – by starting at the top.
Find out more: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/headsta...
Yesterday's Headstart event brought together leading figures from the water and environmental sectors to move forward on a strategy to clean up Britain’s water systems – by starting at the top.
Find out more: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/headsta...
Protect freshwater biodiversity by building the Freshwater Network with us: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/bold-ne...
Bold new plan to reverse the decline in freshwater wildlife
Freshwater Habitats Trust has a bold new plan to reverse the decline in freshwater wildlife within 10 years.
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk
May 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Protect freshwater biodiversity by building the Freshwater Network with us: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/bold-ne...
This made me laugh out loud! www.pestcontrolinlondon.co.uk/get-rid-of-d....
How Do I Get Rid of Dragonflies in My Garden? - Pest Exterminators
Learn the effective methods to get rid of dragonflies from your garden. Maintain plant health and create a comfortable outdoor environment with these tips
www.pestcontrolinlondon.co.uk
April 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This made me laugh out loud! www.pestcontrolinlondon.co.uk/get-rid-of-d....
Today, we've officially launched the Freshwater Network: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/bold-ne...: if you're interested, get in touch and we can work together.
Bold new plan to reverse the decline in freshwater wildlife
Freshwater Habitats Trust has a bold new plan to reverse the decline in freshwater wildlife within 10 years.
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk
April 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Today, we've officially launched the Freshwater Network: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/bold-ne...: if you're interested, get in touch and we can work together.
Reposted by Jeremy Biggs
Along with CEO's from 31 other conservation organisations, our CEO Professor Jeremy Biggs signed this letter to express our concerns over the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, including the risk it poses to irreplaceable habitats ⤵️
The Planning Bill is not the win-win for nature & building we were promised 🚨
If the Bill proceeds unchanged, it will break new ground in the destruction of nature across England 🥀
Our full letter to Steve Reed and Matthew Pennycook 👇
www.wcl.org.uk/docs/2025/20...
If the Bill proceeds unchanged, it will break new ground in the destruction of nature across England 🥀
Our full letter to Steve Reed and Matthew Pennycook 👇
www.wcl.org.uk/docs/2025/20...
April 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Along with CEO's from 31 other conservation organisations, our CEO Professor Jeremy Biggs signed this letter to express our concerns over the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, including the risk it poses to irreplaceable habitats ⤵️
Looking forward to reading this paper carefully as we are doing a lot of work on floodplains; especially useful will be the authors take on managing polluted (river) water inputs onto floodplains, which can be pretty bad in many areas where we (Freshwater Habitats Trust) work.
Super excited to share our new paper out today in Nature Water led by Christina McCabe. @naturewaterjnl.bsky.social
“The ecological benefits of more room for rivers”
Find the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Free to read version: rdcu.be/eeuBx
#rivers #floods #biodiversity #resilience
“The ecological benefits of more room for rivers”
Find the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Free to read version: rdcu.be/eeuBx
#rivers #floods #biodiversity #resilience
The ecological benefits of more room for rivers - Nature Water
This Review synthesizes the ecological features and processes that arise when rivers are given room to move. Understanding these interactions will support more sustainable decisions that weigh river e...
www.nature.com
March 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Looking forward to reading this paper carefully as we are doing a lot of work on floodplains; especially useful will be the authors take on managing polluted (river) water inputs onto floodplains, which can be pretty bad in many areas where we (Freshwater Habitats Trust) work.
Worried about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill? We are, but one way to get the best from the Bill is to ensure experts in NGOs and the private sector can get involved to help Natural England do good job - see Freshwater Habitats Trust viewpoint: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/what-wi...
What will the Planning and Infrastructure Bill mean for freshwater? - Freshwater Habitats Trust
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced to Parliament on 11th March, proposes sweeping changes to the way development’s impacts on nature are assessed and mitigated.
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk
March 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Worried about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill? We are, but one way to get the best from the Bill is to ensure experts in NGOs and the private sector can get involved to help Natural England do good job - see Freshwater Habitats Trust viewpoint: freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/what-wi...
Recent data from NRW shows how SAC rivers in Wales are faring in terms of phosphorus pollution. We're working on the R. Irfon SAC where, a little to everyone's surprise, 2024 monitoring data show all the monitored lengths are reaching the high standard for phosphate required.
March 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Recent data from NRW shows how SAC rivers in Wales are faring in terms of phosphorus pollution. We're working on the R. Irfon SAC where, a little to everyone's surprise, 2024 monitoring data show all the monitored lengths are reaching the high standard for phosphate required.
This threat to Castor Hanglands nature reserve is worrying, not least because it has the richest pond in Britain - Castor Hanglands Main Pond: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... - for more about a really amazing waterbody, see freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/ponds-p...
Wildlife Trust objects to new homes plan near Peterborough
A special joint scrutiny committee will be held to discuss the draft plan today.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
This threat to Castor Hanglands nature reserve is worrying, not least because it has the richest pond in Britain - Castor Hanglands Main Pond: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... - for more about a really amazing waterbody, see freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/ponds-p...
Mat of Common Frog (Rana temporaria) spawn in Bagley Wood, Oxon about 8 square metres ina area which is about 500 clumps (and therefore females) - see www.thebhs.org/publications...
March 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Mat of Common Frog (Rana temporaria) spawn in Bagley Wood, Oxon about 8 square metres ina area which is about 500 clumps (and therefore females) - see www.thebhs.org/publications...
Here's a v. recent and useful paper that builds on our 2004 work (www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...) comparing biodiversity in ponds with other freshwater habitat types. The new study (www.frontiersin.org/journals/pla...) looks at wetland plant diversity in Central European agricultural...
March 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Here's a v. recent and useful paper that builds on our 2004 work (www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...) comparing biodiversity in ponds with other freshwater habitat types. The new study (www.frontiersin.org/journals/pla...) looks at wetland plant diversity in Central European agricultural...
My garden pond - awaiting frogs (and already with lots of Limnephilus lunatus - though you can't see them in this pic). Here in the surprisingly cold centre of England (this is Abingdon near Oxford) first dates have usually been March 1st-14th.
March 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
My garden pond - awaiting frogs (and already with lots of Limnephilus lunatus - though you can't see them in this pic). Here in the surprisingly cold centre of England (this is Abingdon near Oxford) first dates have usually been March 1st-14th.
Question 169 in the Cunliffe Review: consult.defra.gov.uk/independent-...
February 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Question 169 in the Cunliffe Review: consult.defra.gov.uk/independent-...
This should be interesting - looking forward to it.
February 28, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This should be interesting - looking forward to it.
More interesting and important results from @ukceh.bsky.social on changes to river invertebrate communities - although note that the team says "However, there has been little significant further improvement since then" (the early 2000s, that is - also known as 20 years ago!).
So, the overall story on why the EPT group seems to be still recovering is consistent with the statistical findings."
3/3
3/3
February 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
More interesting and important results from @ukceh.bsky.social on changes to river invertebrate communities - although note that the team says "However, there has been little significant further improvement since then" (the early 2000s, that is - also known as 20 years ago!).
Great work in one of the UKs hottest of freshwater biodiversity hotspots: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article.... As we all know ponds are magic!
Dormant seeds from Watton Ice Age pond project germinate
The seeds found between sediment layers have now germinated to bring back ancient aquatic plants.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Great work in one of the UKs hottest of freshwater biodiversity hotspots: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article.... As we all know ponds are magic!
The Mirror reports on our District Licensing scheme for great crested newts - a great way to protect newts and freshwater biodiversity more generally: www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Ministers urged to back plan for saving newts without headaches for builders
The great crested newt is a protected species, but this means developers often have to go through months of red tape to identify their locations before they can put a shovel in the ground
www.mirror.co.uk
February 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The Mirror reports on our District Licensing scheme for great crested newts - a great way to protect newts and freshwater biodiversity more generally: www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
You'll probably also enjoy this new paper by Patrick Armitage and colleagues on the value of small freshwaters: www.researchgate.net/profile/Dave...
February 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
You'll probably also enjoy this new paper by Patrick Armitage and colleagues on the value of small freshwaters: www.researchgate.net/profile/Dave...
4 key messages from the OEP assessment of the Environmental Improvement Plan: www.theoep.org.uk/sites/defaul...:
1. Small waters "make up a significant proportion of the water environment"
2. "While polluted rivers are improving, the most diverse and least impacted streams are declining in quality"
1. Small waters "make up a significant proportion of the water environment"
2. "While polluted rivers are improving, the most diverse and least impacted streams are declining in quality"
www.theoep.org.uk
February 14, 2025 at 9:15 AM
4 key messages from the OEP assessment of the Environmental Improvement Plan: www.theoep.org.uk/sites/defaul...:
1. Small waters "make up a significant proportion of the water environment"
2. "While polluted rivers are improving, the most diverse and least impacted streams are declining in quality"
1. Small waters "make up a significant proportion of the water environment"
2. "While polluted rivers are improving, the most diverse and least impacted streams are declining in quality"
Julie Fahy’s PhD défense in Geneva is about to start.
February 12, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Julie Fahy’s PhD défense in Geneva is about to start.
As well as being CEO at FHT, I'm also a Director of the Newt Conservation Partnership - and you can see some of the latest news here (though you'll have to go on X to look at it😂😂): x.com/NewtPartners...
x.com
x.com
February 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM
As well as being CEO at FHT, I'm also a Director of the Newt Conservation Partnership - and you can see some of the latest news here (though you'll have to go on X to look at it😂😂): x.com/NewtPartners...