Last week, Trinity introduced a new wildlife pond on campus, which is aimed at creating a vibrant hub for biodiversity within the city centre.
According to College, the pond will provide a habitat for creatures like dragonflies, hoverflies, frogs and newts, as well as a whole host of other aquatic organisms.
The new pond is located in the provost’s garden, near St Patrick’s well, and is visible to passers-by from the entrance to campus on Nassau street. The location, surrounded by trees and foliage, was picked due its ability to provide a suitable environment for wildlife biodiversity.
The creation of this new pond was facilitated by Provost Linda Doyle, and was carried out by colleagues from Estates and Facilities, alongside Research Associate Collie Ennis.
Regarding this new ecological development, Ennis said: “This pond will be an incredible resource for wildlife biodiversity in campus and beyond. Ponds like this, specifically designed for nature, are rare, especially in the concrete jungle of a city centre.”
“By building it Trinity has provided habitat for everything from dragonflies to frogs and a source of freshwater for foxes, birds, and bees,” Ennis added. “Really looking forward to seeing what we find in it when spring arrives!”
The upkeep of the pond will be “minimal”, as it is “largely self-sufficient”. Once a year, excessive plant growth will be trimmed, and dead leaves accumulated on the pond’s surface will be removed to the pond’s edge, allowing any inhabitants of the pond to crawl back in.
The logs which line the pond were taken from the old maple tree which died in the front square, giving them “a second life on campus and helping nature at the same time” according to a statement from College.
Speaking on the introduction of the new pond, the provost said: “It is really fascinating to see how this pond will develop now as part of a dynamic ecosystem.”
“It’s also exciting to see the creation of more biodiversity in our city centre,” Doyle continued. “We need more of this! The pond is a small but inspiring step.”
The pond is the most recent in a number of efforts made to accommodate biodiversity on Trinity campus. Other actions taken in previous years include rewilding of the Trinity front lawns, the enactment of the Biodiversity Action Plan, and the cementment of Sam, the Trinity fox, into the College community.
