The pond’s poor biodiversity credentials were highlighted after a pond survey by Wildscapes. By felling some large trees and clearing overgrown vegetation the site was able to benefit from more sunlight, which improved biodiversity by allowing smaller, more varied species to flourish.
Organic and inorganic matter was cleared from the pond to improve water conditions. Previously the pond’s surface was covered by a film of oil, due to surface runoff from the nearby Parkway. To address this we installed a reed bed which helps to filter out pollution.
We also delivered maintenance days, one focusing on Himalayan Balsam pulling, and one on Japanese Knotweed eradication. The school’s pond is at the head of the Mossbrook Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), so effective removal of invasive species was particularly important to ensure this site was not contaminated.