A dew pond is an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill, intended for watering livestock. Dew ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water may not be readily available. The name dew pond (sometimes cloud pond or mist pond) is first found in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1865. [1]

May 16, 2024 · Dew ponds, those mysterious man-made features of the rural English landscape, have a fascinating history that spans centuries. These artificial ponds were primarily constructed to provide water for livestock in areas where natural water sources were scarce, such as on high, chalky downlands.

Jun 2, 2006 · Yet nothing could be simpler than a dew pond. These small ponds can be found scattered across the downs, wherever sheep and cattle traditionally went for summer grazing, in Hampshire, Sussex, the Peak District and Yorkshire.

The traditional dew pond design ensures an adequate water supply from rainwater alone, by maximising the pond's catchment area in relation to its evaporation area. The average dew pond is about 18m (20 yards) across its water surface with …

Mar 15, 2016 · Dew-ponds are particularly associated with a few key areas of chalk and limestone including the South Downs, Yorkshire, the Lincolnshire Wolds and the White Peak in Derbyshire....

Feb 18, 2025 · Also known as cloud or mist ponds, the term dew pond was first used in print in 1865 in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, reflecting a popular view that, given their position, their primary source of water came from dew or mist.

Dew ponds are artificial, saucer-shaped depressions commonly found on upland surfaces in northwest Europe, most notably in southern England. They are used to provide convenient small-scale watering sources for sheep and cattle in otherwise dry areas.

Dec 8, 2024 · I have found one example of a dew pond in Barbados. It is a few meters from the cliff at Deebles Point, St. Philip. It is man made, circular and not fed by a spring or a stream but by seasonal run off from the surrounding land.

Mar 21, 2019 · Dew ponds (sometimes also called cloud ponds or mist ponds) were a common farming practice in the Marlborough Downs area in the 18th and 19th centuries. These man-made ponds were created with clay and straw for farm animals to drink at.

Gazing across the rolling Yorkshire Wolds, you may spot glimmers of water among the farms and fields. These are the mysterious dew ponds - providing a glimpse into past farming practices. Our restoration work has turned them into a haven for wildlife.