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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer
@carlsayer.bsky.social
1.8K followers 730 following 250 posts
Professor at UCL, Restoration of freshwaters, ponds, lakes, rivers, meadows, plants, diatoms, fish, eels, burbot, crucians, palaeoecology, rewilding, Norfolk: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/geography/carl-sayer
www.ucl.ac.uk
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · Dec 8
POND GHOSTS & ZOMBIES. A film on our #pond #restoration #Ghostponds work in @uclgeography.bsky.social by RAZOR Science featuring Norfolk Ponds Project, Helen Greaves, myself & many. Pond restoration achieves nature recovery so quickly: youtu.be/SYkbDdaUMBY?...
Bringing 'ghost' and 'zombie' ponds back from the dead
YouTube video by RAZOR Science Show
youtu.be
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 4d
The great Helen Greaves representing us at the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership Community Biodiversity Fair today @theforumnorwich.bsky.social promoting ponds, #pond restoration & of course #ghostpond resurrection
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 6d
And same place too!
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 7d
A simply magnificent @uclgeography.bsky.social MSc Aquatic Conservation & MSc Conservation team at Blakeney Point NNR in autumn weather to dream of @tonyjuniper.bsky.social @craigbennett3.bsky.social
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 9d
The Bodham Beavers, upper River Glaven. North Norfolk MSc fieldclass for @uclgeography.bsky.social MSc Conservation & Aquatic Conservation 2025 with Jonah Tosney from Norfolk Rivers Trust & 9 beavers
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 9d
Sampling #ghostponds before & after ressurection today with @hayleymcmechan.bsky.social & the MSc Conservation & MSc Aquatic Conservation teams on our @uclgeography.bsky.social fieldcourse to N. Norfolk. Utter madness!
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 11d
The MSc Aquatic Conservation & MSc Conservation @uclgeography.bsky.social North Norfolk fieldclass in full flow in superb weather. So far no sign of #Blackshuck! @tonyjuniper.bsky.social @craigbennett3.bsky.social
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carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 16d
Good taste!
carlsayer.bsky.social
Carl Sayer @carlsayer.bsky.social · 16d
Spindle at a pink peak. My favourite plant of the autumn for #wildflowerhour
Beautiful Spindle with pink berries in the hedge Close up of spindle berry
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 17d
A resurrected Ice age #pond in Norfolk, E. England. Dug to draw in extraterrestrials. It took 1 day to bring back. The black soil is full of seeds. The excavation will fill over winter & be amazing by summer. Photo @hburningham.bsky.social @hayleymcmechan.bsky.social @timholtwilson.bsky.social
A resurrected ancient ghost pond see from a drone
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
hayleymcmechan.bsky.social
Hayley McMechan @hayleymcmechan.bsky.social · 18d
‘It’s resurrection’: 1,000-year-old seeds could grow ancient plants in England’s ice-age ghost ponds

So excited to be quoted in this article about our resurrected #ghostponds with members of our fantastic team @carlsayer.bsky.social, @hburningham.bsky.social, @timholtwilson.bsky.social
‘It’s resurrection’: 1,000-year-old seeds could grow ancient plants in England’s ice-age ghost ponds
An expert team are resurrecting ice age ponds and finding rare species returning from a ‘perfect time capsule’
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 18d
Our work resurrecting ice age #ghostponds in the Guardian today @timholtwilson.bsky.social @hburningham.bsky.social @uclgeography.bsky.social ‘Just add water’: how to bring back ancient plants in a Norfolk ghost pond | Wildlife | The Guardian share.google/kO6HQaC4PAUJ...
‘Just add water’: how to bring back ancient plants in a Norfolk ghost pond
An expert team are resurrecting ice age ponds and finding rare species returning from a ‘perfect time capsule’
share.google
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 19d
1/4: We restored the biggest Norfolk farmland #pond we have ever worked on over the last 3 days. 50 x 25 m. Huge amounts of willow was removed by our volunteers followed by much chainsaw work @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
Many volunteers smiling in an overgrown pond
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 22d
We have been described as "THE BEST NGO THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT"

Please help by following us & reposting!!!
A stunning dreamy planty pond. Pond covered in pondweeds
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 22d
1/4: It's Norfolk Ponds Project Pond Week. Despite the wild weather hampering things today we are now 4 ponds in! Look at this pond in the morning compared with the afternoon. All done with hand tools & brill volunteers clearing scrub (phase 1)!
A pond with lots volunteers clearing scrub Same pond but much scrub removed
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 26d
A day of 'ghostpingo' #pond resurrection in the Norfolk Brecklands with @timholtwilson.bsky.social & other wonderful experts. By the end of tomorrow Norfolk will have 2 more of its lost ancient ponds back
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · 24d
This week we are working with volunteers to restore around 6 farm #ponds by major scrub & mud removal. Today we got almost 2 ponds done through pure weight of numbers helping!!! A truly brilliant crazy team!!!
A team of crazy pond restorers in a pond in a meadow
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
ditchontologist.bsky.social
Chelsea Clifford @ditchontologist.bsky.social · 26d
Check it out: www.vims.edu/newsandevent...!
@jwcat757.bsky.social at VIMS popularized our article (www.nature.com/articles/s43...)! Enjoy with ditches, folks! 🧪

Not pictured: journal article co-lead @peatymike.bsky.social, section leads @fluitans.bsky.social,
@drtatariw.bsky.social, & others...
Ditches as waterways: Managing ‘ditch-scapes’ to strengthen communities and the environment
A global study reframes ditches as multifunctional waterways with the potential to improve community resilience, water quality, biodiversity and environmental outcomes.
www.vims.edu
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
timholtwilson.bsky.social
Tim Holt-Wilson @timholtwilson.bsky.social · 28d
Getting ready for this year's 'ghost pingo' restoration campaign on farmland in the Brecks - whatever tomorrow's weather may throw at us! @carlsayer.bsky.social @norfolkponds.bsky.social @brecksfarmerswn.bsky.social
#Breckland #biodiversity #geodiversity
Equipment ready to go into a car boot, including folding chair, buckets, ranging pole, umbrella, spadew, mattock, geological hammer.
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Sep 7
1/2: Ponds were often filled in at the same time that hedges were removed & so burnt wood & hedgebank soil was dumped in the disappearing pond which was a convenient hole. Big tree stumps could not be burnt so often come out whole when we restore #ghostponds. Often we find loads of big stumps
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Sep 7
A pond restored in 2015. Stunning structural complexity & very high biodiversity in its 3 planty zones. Right in the middle of an arable field but no drainage in & a good buffer. Farming & conservation working together. This is what we MUST DO! @wildernorfolk.bsky.social @tonyjuniper.bsky.social
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Sep 6
This is what we do. Since 2014 we have restored (& guided others to do the same in the UK) 100s of #ponds with **MASSIVE** measured benefits.

See this mid-arable farm pond before & just 1 year after restoration by scrub & mud removal. A freshwater jewel in the landscape @davetickner.bsky.social
A tree covered pond An open sunny planty pond
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Sep 5
It's a great when you change the map! 2 resurrected #ghostpingos, just 1 yr old, look like they have been there forever. Working with the brill @timholtwilson.bsky.social & funded by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, BFER & Heritage Lottery we have helped 22 lost ancient Ice Age ponds back to life since 2021
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Aug 31
Restoring farm ponds can be very good for pollinators. We wonder why!!!???

doi.org/10.1111/icad...
Pond full of white flowering fine-leaved water dropwort Pond full of flowering greater yellow cress. Yellow pond!
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Aug 30
1/2: A Norfolk #ghostpingo #pond during, just after, 1 year (2024) & 2 years (2025) after ressurection. The pond now supports well over 35 wetland plants. It is stunning & getting better & better. An old seedbank was surely exposed allowing rapid plant colonisation
People watching a digger New excavation Beautiful pond colonising with plants People at a lovely pond full of plants
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Reposted by Carl Sayer
norfolkponds.bsky.social
Norfolk Ponds Project @norfolkponds.bsky.social · Aug 29
1/2: The charm of overgrown ponds. In Norfolk Ponds Project we reset succession in wooded-over farm ponds by major scrub & mud removal. This hugely increases biodiversity at the landscape-scale. But so there is a mix of successional stages we always leave some ponds. Here are 4 we will not touch
Wooded over farm pond 1 Wooded over farm pond 2 Wooded over farm pond 3 Wooded over farm pond 4
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