Scrapes, ponds and other water features provide important benefits for local wildlife by offering habitats and resources for a range of plants and animals.

Ponds are usually deeper and more permanent, while scrapes are shallow areas that may only hold water for part of the year, creating temporary wetland habitats.

Both ponds and scrapes are especially beneficial for species like amphibians, birds, and insects, providing places for them to breed, feed, and shelter.

They also encourage the growth of water-loving plants, such as reeds and sedges, which attract pollinators and other wildlife.

In addition, scrapes help reduce flooding and improve water quality by soaking up and filtering rainwater runoff. Overall, these habitats play an important role in creating a healthier, more sustainable environment for both people and wildlife.

As part of our Biodiversity Action Plan, we are creating, restoring and enhancing wetland habitats across parks and open spaces in the district.

Work so far

2024/25

• Castle Farm, Kenilworth - Fencing installed around one of the ponds to help prevent the spread of invasive weeds and better protect habitats for great crested newts and other species at this important Local Wildlife Site
• Kenilworth Common, Kenilworth - Restoration of a silted pond to increase depth, widen margins and reinstate natural edges
• Parliament Piece, Kenilworth – Creation of a new scrape in an existing wet area, alongside improvements to the smaller pond on site including removal of self-set trees, opening-up one side, deepening and widening the pond, creating habitat piles (hibernaculum) and butterfly banks, and installing protective fencing around the pond
• Harbury Lane Playing Fields, Leamington Spa - Installation of two new scrapes and butterfly banks to the south-east of the football pitches
• Pottertons Field, Warwick – Creation of an additional scrape on the floodplain
• Tapping Way open space, Warwick – Enlargement of two existing scrapes and installation of butterfly banks

2025/26

• St Nicholas Park, Warwick - Installation of a new scrape and enlargement of an existing scrape near the riverside woodland to help manage surface water
• Leam Valley, Leamington Spa – Installation of 2 new scrapes between woodland edge and grassland meadow, with butterfly banks created using the excavated soil and seeded with native wildflowers
• Fords Fields, Leamington Spa – Installation of a new scrape. Butterfly bank created using the excavated soil and seeded with native wildflowers
• Eagle Recreation Ground, Leamington Spa - Installation of a new scrape. Butterfly bank created using the excavated soil and seeded with native wildflowers
• Redland Recreation Ground, Leamington Spa - Installation of a new scrape. Butterfly bank created using the excavated soil and seeded with native wildflowers
• Stansfield Grove, Kenilworth – Pollarding of willow trees around the pond to increase light levels, conserve water and reduce nutrient enrichment. Deadwood retained on site to provide beneficial habitat to newts and other wildlife
• Kenilworth Cemetery – Planting of 100 water-edge wildflower plants around the sustainable drainage (SuDS) pool

Find out about the other work we're doing:

• Meadows and grasslands
• Tree and hedgerow planting 
• Hedgerow management and restoration
• Urban biodiversity (verges, cemeteries and green spaces)