An outline lake management plan for Hatchet Pond, New Forest SSSI (NECR319)

Hatchet Pond is one of over one thousand ponds in the New Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a qualifying habitat of the New Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is a popular site for visitors as well as being a coarse fishing location.
Despite being artificial in origin it is one of the highest quality standing water habitats in the country supporting an outstanding assemblage of freshwater plants and animals including a suite of endangered and protected species.
Common Standards Monitoring Assessments have identified a decline in condition of the lake and classified the habitat as being in unfavourable condition on account of poor water quality, presence of the invasive non-native species and failure of wetland plants to meet all compositional targets.
This contract collated, reviewed and interpreted the evidence relating to the decline in condition and produced recommendations to protect and restore the lake based on the latest information relating to restoration techniques for this type of water body.
This report will inform the production of a detailed restoration and management plan.