An Urban Oasis Sustained By Nature for Nature
A pond built for ecological and biodiversity purposes
The Upper Circular Pond is slightly off the common walkway. It is surrounded by lush green vegetation neatly tuck in the upper corner of Kebun Bangsar. If you manage to walk up the slopes, you will find this little watering hole buzzing with water bugs and butterflies.
Unlike the other wetlands on the farm, this pond blends itself beautifully as it nestles comfortably into the hillside’s serene landscape. A charming, calm contemplation spot for those who need to catch their breath.
As you move closer to the pond, you will hear the soft humming of bees, bugs, and fluttering butterflies, dashing with their mission to transport pollen. On some days, you will spot the occasionally lost dragon flies stopping to unwind on the water pads while the insect pollinators plunge for a sip of nectar from the blooming Water Hyacinth and Lilies.
If you peep beneath its mirrored surface, you will find small fishes and tadpoles choreographing water ripples to reveal life underneath the green water shield pads.
Every week, the landscape of the pond changes, almost like a moving theater set.
A new scene takes place. You will find stage props in the form of new buds and blossoms or witness the brownish decay of life’s ongoing drama in this pond.
It breathes on its own, quietly in a corner minding its own business despite the storm on the outside world.
The Role of Urban Ponds
Urban ponds are created beyond the purpose of beauty but to contribute to the biodiversity of a landscape. It provides a natural habitat for amphibians, fishes, and water bugs or insects.
It functions as a pit stop/stopover to facilitate these species’ movement throughout our urban concrete jungle.
The European Habitats Directive (98/83/EC) highlighted —
“Stepping stones (such as ponds or small woods), are essential for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species.”
In his research paper, Dr. Hassal from the University of Leeds said — By enhancing the habitat connectivity of a high-quality urban pond, it will in return supports a greater proportion of the landscape-level biodiversity than other comparable habitats.
Beyond the role of ponds acting as stopover networks or refuge for these aquatic species, ponds serve as sustainable solutions to water management and climate change such as nutrient retention, rainfall interception, or carbon sequestration.
About Kebun Kebun Bangsar’s Upper Circular Pond
This picturesque pond was hand-dug in 2017 and had a thin plastered reinforce concrete shell. Since its inception, the pond has been self-sustaining, left to Mother Nature to decide what works best for the ecosystem around the pond and its biodiversity.
Today, this pond becomes a vital watering hole and oasis for small animals and pollinators.
You will find this pond buzzing with little creatures during the night. Some of the plants you will find at this spot are; Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Hydrilla, Watershield, and Water Lilies.
The pond has been left for nature to shape and nourish. The water plants and the life around them propagated according to their rhythm. Nature took charge as it should and co-exist with humans to provide a sanctuary in this busy city of Bangsar, Malaysia.
Thank you for reading.
