Parish Council Statement on Pond Works
The Parish Council has received a number of enquiries about the Horsepond in the village which, owing to the continued hot weather, has now dried up. In response to these enquiries, we are issuing the following information.
Horsepond is a natural, rain-fed pond in the village, originally used for watering horses, with a clay base. It was last dredged in 1996–97 to remove accumulated silt.
Over the last few months, the water level has fallen owing to the prolonged hot weather, and the pond has now dried up. This is a natural process, and the pond has dried up, or nearly dried up, during previous hot summers.
The pond attracts visiting wildlife, including waterbirds and amphibians such as frogs and toads. As the pond has no inlet from a river or other watercourse, there should be no native fish, as there is no natural means for them to access it. We would strongly advise residents against releasing or reintroducing fish into the pond, as it is not a suitable habitat for them.
The Parish Council has contacted the Environment Agency regarding the fish and other wildlife affected by the drying of the pond. The Environment Agency has advised that it is unable to assist with moving any fish. As their origin and health status are unknown, moving them could present a significant biosecurity risk, including the potential transfer of disease to any receiving water. Current regulations also require health checks before fish can be moved.
The Environment Agency has further advised that, because the pond is pluvial (rain-fed), periods of drying are likely to be a recurring natural process, and the reintroduction of fish is strongly discouraged.
Other wildlife using the pond is expected to adapt to these conditions by seeking alternative sources of water and will naturally repopulate the pond once it has refilled. The Environment Agency notes that this can happen surprisingly quickly. Indeed, most other pond-dwelling wildlife may benefit from the absence of fish, which can prey upon amphibians and other aquatic species at various stages of their life cycle.
The Parish Council is not responsible for the wildlife which uses the pond, but we understand that amphibians will either move to alternative habitats or become dormant when ponds dry up.
Planned Works
The drying of the pond has provided the Parish Council with an opportunity to take action to remove the build-up of silt, and a specialist contractor is being engaged to carry out this work. Particular care will be taken to protect the clay base of the pond, which is essential to its ability to retain water.
The loss of water has also allowed us to identify areas of the pond wall requiring repair. This work will follow the dredging, and it is anticipated that all works will be completed by the end of September.
The works being carried out will increase the capacity of the pond so that, once it refills following rainfall, it should be more sustainable during periods of hot weather. Nevertheless, during extreme or prolonged periods of drought, it may dry up again, and we have to accept that this is part of the natural cycle of a rain-fed pond.
We would also ask residents not to attempt to refill the pond artificially, whether using tap water, water from fire hydrants or any other source. The Environment Agency strongly recommends that the pond should only be allowed to refill naturally. Such water can contain chlorine and chloramine and may introduce high levels of nutrients, which could upset the natural ecosystem and encourage algal blooms in the future. The Environment Agency has also confirmed that it does not have access to water supplies for refilling ponds.
Horsepond and the wildlife that uses it. We hope that the information above, together with the advice received from the Environment Agency, provides reassurance and clarity regarding the current situation and the actions being taken.
The Council has carefully considered the issues raised, sought appropriate professional and environmental advice, and is now progressing with the planned works to improve the capacity and condition of the pond. As the Horsepond is a natural, rain-fed feature, periods of low water and occasional drying are part of its natural cycle and cannot be entirely prevented.
We will provide further updates if there are any significant developments relating to the planned works. However, unless new or materially different information becomes available, the Parish Council does not propose to enter into further individual correspondence regarding the drying of the pond, the fish, or the refilling of the pond.
We thank residents for their understanding and continued support while these necessary works are carried out.