As we move well into autumn, work at Yalden Spring continues to make good progress. The improvements are helping to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for wildlife, while making this special local green space an enjoyable place for people to visit and appreciate for many years to come. For those who haven’t visited recently, there has been plenty of progress to see!

Boardwalk, embankment and historic pool completed

The new boardwalk and embankment are now complete, along with sections of the new fencing. The historic pool that carries water down from the spring has also been cleared of accumulated silt, helping to restore this important part of the pond system.

The contractors have done a fantastic job getting the project to this stage. Barnwood Carpentry completed the boardwalk work in just three days, while Mike Butcher has been carrying out the groundworks. The results have already attracted many positive comments from people passing by.

These improvements are about much more than appearance. The aim is to protect and enhance the pond environment, manage water more effectively and make the area safer and more accessible for people to enjoy.

What’s happening next?

There has been a short pause in activity over the past couple of weeks ahead of the next major phase of work: the clearance of pine trees on the bank above the western side of the lower pond. This work is planned for early November.
Once the tree clearance is complete, Mike Butcher and his team will return to finish the fencing around the lower pond and install gates at either end of the boardwalk. These will provide access for future maintenance while helping to protect the pond and its surroundings.

The team will also complete the stone surfacing on the footpath around the lower pond. This should help reduce erosion and make the path less prone to muddy puddles, particularly during wetter weather.
A Task Force session is planned for 29 October, when volunteers will carry out some additional tidying-up around the Spring in preparation for the quieter autumn and winter months.

Letting nature take its course

After a long, dry summer, the recent rainfall is beginning to make a difference, and water levels are slowly starting to recover.

Yalden Spring is a natural pond fed by an underground spring, rather than a pool that is artificially filled. The summer drought reduced underground water levels and slowed, or temporarily stopped, the flow into the pond. As autumn and winter rainfall replenishes these underground reserves, the spring should gradually begin to flow more freely and the pond will naturally refill.

The work to clear the lower pond and install a higher outflow pipe is also intended to help retain more water through the spring and summer, supporting more stable water levels for pond life. The extent of this benefit will depend on rainfall and natural groundwater conditions.

The coming months will give the newly completed features time to settle in, while the ponds respond to the changing seasons.

A place for people and wildlife for years to come

The improvements at Yalden Spring are part of a long-term commitment to caring for this much-loved local environment. By improving the pond system, managing water levels more effectively and protecting the surrounding area, the project aims to support a healthy habitat for wildlife while preserving a peaceful and attractive place for people to visit, explore and enjoy.

There is still work to complete, but the progress so far is very encouraging. Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, skills and support, and to all those who have shown such interest and enthusiasm along the way.

With the main work progressing well and the autumn rains beginning to arrive, Yalden Spring is moving towards its next chapter as a thriving natural habitat for many years to come.

Enjoy!