Dew pond
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Dew pond is an artificial pond 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.
They are usually shallow, saucer-shaped and lined with puddled clay or marl. The clay is usually covered by a layer of chalk rubble to protect the lining from the hoofs of cattle. Despite the name, their primary source of water is believed to be rainfall rather than dew or mist.
Dew ponds can still be found on the downlands of southern England and on the Staffordshire moorlands. Recently a dew pond was restored on top of Cleeve Hill, above Cheltenham Spa in the Cotswolds, as part of a National Heritage effort.
