Item 6 Wildlife Ponds Committee Report 20250335DET

This document contains a committee report recommending the approval of a planning application to create 10 new wildlife ponds near Knock House, Strathgirnoc, Birkhall, Ballater. The British Dragonfly Society proposed these ponds to provide crucial breeding habitat for the rare northern damselfly and to enhance biodiversity and a wetland network across the Cairngorms National Park. The ponds are small, designed to blend naturally into the landscape, and will fill with water naturally without needing special infrastructure. The plan has received support from local councils and estates, and assessments show it will have minimal environmental impact, avoiding designated sites, deep peat, and archaeological features. Construction will be carefully timed to avoid bird breeding season, and several conditions will be applied, including a Construction Environmental Management Plan, to manage potential impacts like invasive non-native species and public access during the works.