With all the added anxieties in our lives due to the Corona Virus it’s good to be reminded of the beauty of the changing seasons and the wildlife that is on our doorstep at the pond and elsewhere. The reeds have grown well since February and the yellow flag iris flowered profusely over the spring period. Purple loosestrife, water mint and other perennials have been growing well in the marshy area and along the ponds margins.

Our friendly heron has visited many times patrolling the shallows for fish and our moorhens have raised a brood of chicks. The gardening group have been working hard in the community garden tending the plants and planting up the beautiful tubs and borders for us all to enjoy. Do take the time to stop, sit for a while and enjoy the view!

Although the water levels have been very low at times, we have not had any major algal blooms so far or needed to use the aeration system. A lot of people have enjoyed feeding grain to the ducks and birds instead of bread which has also helped to improve water quality. Thank you all!

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our spring tidy up on the 28th March due to the government’s advice on social distancing but a small team recently carried out a “mini trim” of the reeds near the community garden to improve views across the pond. We will be planning our autumn maintenance in the coming months, as well as some smaller maintenance sessions. If you’d like to volunteer to help, then please contact Alyson on 634168. Clearly, these activities will be dependent on the governments guidance at the time.

Sadly, we’ve also had a number of fishing incidents at the pond which have required us to put up more “no fishing” signs. Please DO respect the signs; a village pond is not an appropriate place to fish. The local police are aware of the problem and are continually monitoring the situation. If you witness anyone fishing and feel comfortable please point out the signs. If this conversation turns abusive, please call 101.