At the Terra das Freiras pilot farm, as part of the LIFE ScrubsNet project, work has been carried out to improve water quality and promote biodiversity through the renaturalisation of the pond.
The pond, one of the farm’s main sources of water along with the well, a spring and a seasonal stream, had a total lack of vegetation on its banks and poor water quality due to the constant presence of cows that used this space directly for watering.
To reverse this situation, several measures were implemented:
- Fencing off the pond to prevent direct access by livestock.
- Installation of a downstream watering hole, fed by gravity thanks to the difference in height, which guarantees the supply of water to livestock without damaging the ecosystem.
- Division of the pond into two areas, using a fence, which allows the animals to access the water directly when necessary.
- Renaturalisation of the banks, with the planting of ash trees, reeds and rose bushes, as well as the installation of a floating raft with aquatic plants, which help to filter the water and create a habitat for different species.
These actions not only improve the ecological health of the pond, but also provide new shelters for wildlife and contribute to the restoration of the natural balance in the woodland.
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