Ponds, Pools and Puddles by Jeremy Biggs & Penny Williams, 2024. New Naturalist’s Series No. 148. London, William Collins. 615pp. ISBN 978-0-00-220085-1.  £65

The authors are founders of the ‘Freshwater Habitats Trust’ which was formed out of ‘Pond Conservation’ initially formed in 1988 by Jeremy Biggs, now Prof. Biggs. It’s a very big and comprehensive book compiled by these two go-to pond experts. The fruits of pond research have been trawled to bring up to date information, graphs and maps of changes in the landscape, and the rise and fall of pond organisms at the hands of man manipulating the landscape. It is not only a good read but it provides a resumé of the state of populations of native and introduced wildlife, with especial detailed information of amphibians. GCNs (Great Crested Newts) we learn are the ‘pantomine villains of British nature conservation’ and ‘more money has been spent on this animal than other, often ‘without much success’ and of Natterjacks we learn are ‘perhaps the most intensively studied of Britain’s amphibians,” but one that is least seen I would add.  A dive into the book for obvious topics such as pingoes, the 1 million ponds project and fairy shrimps are all there with further information.  The history of ponds in Britain provides a fascinating insight into the how aquatic wildlife has worked its way into different habitats, even coastal ones, and abroad, too with information on now toads have evolved into old wet woodland. What the book will be particularly useful for practicing ecologists is that management strategies for looking after, enhancing and making new ponds and what to do with old terrestrialised ponds is all there with illustrations. The book carries many colour photographs demonstrating different types of ponds and wildlife from birds to dependant invertebrates – but no mention of ‘Buglife – The Invertebrate Trust’ in the index. There are indexes to common names and species and a big section on references typical of these NNS books which never disappoint.