Nettlebed Ponds Project

Latest News - January 2012

Stradwell Pond, Chapel Lane, Nettlebed - Work commenced at the end of November clearing trees from the edge of the pond leaving some oak and other native species. The trees removed were mostly hawthorn, birch and holly which were crowded and had become entangled and strangled by ivy. Holly has been left at ground level and will bush out nicely quite quickly. There have now been six morning work sessions some with local volunteers and some with the Chiltern Society Volunteer Group. We are very grateful to all who have helped.

Later sessions concentrated on removing the abundance of willow growing within the pond. This work has been helped by the unusually very low levels of the pond enabling the work parties to extract fallen trees from the water.

Most of the brushwood has been burnt on site. Some timber has been left as log piles in the area and some has been removed.

The final stage of pumping out the “dead” water and using a digger to remove the build up of silt in the pond has now been completed and the pond edges stabilised with dead wood.

Do come and have a look!

This project has the backing of the Chilterns Conservation Board’s Commons Project. Some Lottery Funding has been granted for the project which is for four years.

The use of volunteers so far has enabled us to keep the costs down and leave funds available for further work on the extensive network of ponds on Nettlebed Common.

This Project is Heritage Lottery Funded

Nettlebed Common Ponds - background information