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Create a dampland

A dampland is a part of the garden designed to retain water beneath the surface, like a pond filled with damp soil. It is an excellent ReWild action, offering wet shelter, food and water for small critters.

Dampland Frog Habitat Pond Guides Action

Double down with a dampland

As the name suggests, a dampland is simply a patch of garden built for extra water retention.

Damplands are designed to use and store water effectively and don't require lots of additional watering.

Native species that like this environment can survive dry spells, but can also tolerate very wet conditions.

Damplands are great for your ReWild rating because the individual plants also contribute to your overall score.

A Bigger Picture

The high ReWild value of a dampland recognises that it is more than just a plant or water feature.

The combination of the different habitat elements attracts a range of critters and animals that won't visit a typical, drier garden.

This means you can create a two-layered system, with a far greater number of biological interactions happening at your site.

By making these interactions possible, you'll be adding an important layer to our natural 'food web'.

Habitat Value: Level 5

Wet shelter, Food and Water.

A dampland can ‘supercharge’ your garden’s habitat value, as it creates an entire miniature ecosystem alongside your more traditional garden beds and plantings.

Like a pond, damplands quickly become home to many invertebrates, making it a perfect foraging habitat for frogs, birds, and small mammals. Damplands can be replicated in sealed pots and will have a similar impact.

The Level 5 habitat value reflects the variety of benefits a dampland can provide. This activity provides Wet Shelter, Food and Water, satisfying three out of the four habitat values (the fourth is Dry Shelter).

In terms of ReWild scoring, damplands have a multiplier effect, as you should also count the individual plantings separately, adding to your overall habitat rating.

What should I plant?

The majority of native plants are adapted to our climate, and can survive dry spells.

This is also true of many of the species that can live in a dampland. The difference is that these plants also tolerate a good drenching, while others can suffer from overwatering, developing shallow root systems (affecting the overall health of the plant) or root rot.

In addition to the plant species identified above, you can filter your search in the ReWild Resources section by Topic: Dampland Gardens or Habitat: Dampland for a broader selection of plants.

Creating a dampland

Your dampland can offer a real point of difference in your garden, offering plant species that might be difficult to grow in your existing soil type. You can emphasise this point of difference by ‘decorating’ the area with additional rocks, logs and fallen leaves, providing extra refuge for small wildlife.

 

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