As we head into autumn, our project to restore the ponds at Yalden Spring and create an even better home for local wildlife is well underway.

Over the spring and summer, there’s been plenty happening behind the scenes. Our Task Force volunteers have been busy clearing logs, dead hedges and undergrowth, while we’ve also been working through budgets, planning and timings to get everything ready for this next important stage of the project.

Our volunteers have also been keeping a very close eye on the pond life throughout the preparations. Before the machinery arrived, our “amphibian monitor” Louise spent many hours carefully checking the area for any active amphibians. Thankfully, only a few frogs and one toad were found to be on the wrong side of the works – and they were safely relocated!

If you’ve visited the High Chart this week, you’ll have noticed that the site has now been fully cleared, including the removal of the old boardwalk, and fenced off. The footpath through the ponds area is currently closed.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but the closure is important for everyone’s safety. With machinery operating on site, we need to make sure that walkers, dog walkers and cyclists aren’t moving through the works area.
What’s happening this autumn?

The next key phase of the project will take place through September and early October. This will include:

• De-silting the lower pond area, helping to improve its future water retention
• Repairing the leaking embankment
• Replacing the ageing boardwalk

We’ll be leaving the upper pond for a later phase. Despite the recent drought, it managed to retain enough water to support the local pond life, so for now we’re allowing this area to remain undisturbed.

And there’s more to come…

Further work is planned through the winter and into 2027, including de-silting the upper pond, creating a viewing platform over the spring and some additional tree work.
Pond work will, of course, be carefully timed around frog spawning season to minimise any impact on our amphibian population.

It’s an exciting stage in the Yalden Spring project, and we’re looking forward to seeing the area develop over the coming months.

Thank you for your patience while the works are underway – and thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who have put so much time and effort into getting us to this point.

We’ll keep you updated as the project progresses!

We hope to see you at the Annual Meeting at St Andrew’s Hall on Saturday 12 September 1130am.

All membership or general enquiries to friendsoflimpsfieldcommon@gmail.com