Community Ponds & Pocket Wetlands: How to Rewild Shared Spaces in Devon

A single pond can bring life back to a whole community space — dragonflies over the water, birds at the margins, and children discovering frogs for the first time. Across Devon and Cornwall, more parish councils, schools, and local groups are discovering that small-scale water projects can deliver huge ecological, educational, and wellbeing benefits.

At Sasaquatics, we help design and deliver community ponds and pocket wetlands that restore local biodiversity while managing water naturally — turning underused ground into living, resilient landscapes.

Planning a funded pond or wetland project in Devon or Cornwall? We can support as your pond and wetland creation delivery partner.

🌿 What Are Pocket Wetlands?

Pocket wetlands are compact, carefully designed habitats that capture and filter rainwater while providing rich biodiversity in a small footprint — typically 20–200 m².
They can be added to:

• Village greens or playing-field edges
• School grounds and community gardens
• Churchyards and roadside verges
• Housing developments and park corners

Even the smallest wetland can store thousands of litres of rainwater, reducing local flood risk and improving water quality.

💧 Why Communities Are Investing in Ponds

1. Biodiversity Boost – Support amphibians, pollinators, and wetland plants.

2. Natural Flood Management – Hold water on site during heavy rain.

3. Outdoor Learning & Wellbeing – Provide educational and therapeutic spaces.

4. Community Engagement – Local volunteers can help design, plant, and monitor.

5. Funding Opportunities – Many ponds qualify for Local Nature Recovery and community rewilding grants.

🧭 How Sasaquatics Helps

Our team combines ecological design expertise with hands-on delivery across Devon and Cornwall. We provide:

• Feasibility studies & mapping (using the DEFRA MAGIC tool)
• Design & planting plans tailored to community use and site ecology
• Grant guidance & application support (ELMS, Rewilding Britain, NEIRF, local authority funds)
• Construction & planting – ponds, scrapes, and swales built with minimal machinery
• Monitoring & engagement plans – including citizen-science biodiversity surveys

Our goal is always to leave communities with a space that is self-sustaining, educational, and beautiful.

🌱 Example: Village Green Pond, Mid-Devon

In 2024, we worked with a parish council to convert a soggy verge into a small wildlife pond. Funded through a Local Nature Recovery pilot, it now supports dragonflies, amphibians, and wetland plants — and doubles as an outdoor classroom for the village school.

💰 Funding & Support

Several active funding routes can support community rewilding:

• Rewilding Britain Innovation Fund – for creative community restoration projects.
• ELMS Local Nature Recovery – payments for habitat creation and management.
• Neighbourhood or parish climate funds – small-grant support for biodiversity and flood resilience.
• Corporate & CSR partnerships – local businesses sponsoring community ponds.

Sasaquatics can assist with mapping, costings, and ecological statements to strengthen funding bids.

🪶 Ready to Rewild Your Community Space?

Whether you’re a parish councillor, headteacher, or community volunteer, we can help you design, fund, and deliver a pond or pocket wetland that fits your space and goals.