Bradley Green is a tiny 8 hectare site a few miles North West of Whitchurch in Cheshire. It is managed by the Bradley Common Group and consists of a matrix of grassland, scrub, fen and numerous ponds.

Bradley Common was awarded Flagship Pond status due to the presence on site of Lesser Silver Water Beetle Hydrochara caraboides which is listed as included in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and is listed as Endangered in the Red Data Book of Insects. The adults prefer deep, weedy ponds and ditches in peaty areas, however, the young and eggs are usually found in shallow, often temporary ditches with overhanging vegetation.

Great Crested Newts Triturus cristatus, a European protected species, are also present on the site. These enigmatic creatures are found in a wide range of lowland area with matrix of fish-free ponds and good terrestrial habitats, including deciduous woodland, undisturbed grassland and mature hedgerows.

Location: Cheshire

Accessibility: Some Flagship Pond sites are accessible to the public, and some are not. If in doubt, consult maps for rights of way, look online for site information, or contact the site manager, and follow any instructions on site. It is up to you to check whether you require permission to visit and access the ponds on a site.

Site owners/managers: Bradley Common Group