Volunteers hard at work to keep the undergrowth cleared at the pond at Beulah Hill

The Conservation Volunteers are celebrating the award of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to finance its Croydon Ponds Project.

This two-year project will investigate both the history and the ecology of Croydon’s public ponds.

There are more than 40 public ponds in Croydon, ranging from ornamental ones like the pond at Coombe Wood, to old farm ponds like the Cattle Pond in Littleheath Woods, to large industrial bodies of water such as South Norwood Lake.

The ponds project will be recruiting volunteers to research the archives and produce a definitive history of our ponds. The project will also work with local people to help maintain their ponds and improve their biodiversity.

Lloyd Park’s pond is one of the smaller ones in Croydon. But it still requires careful conservation work

“Some of our ponds in Croydon are a little neglected,” said Peter Underwood, the senior project officer with TCV in Croydon.

“Even on sites where there is an active group of volunteers they have told me that they don’t feel they have the expertise to look after the ponds properly. Through this project we will be able to support existing volunteers on these sites and hopefully new groups of volunteers to look after Croydon’s ponds.

“Croydon’s ponds also have a very diverse history. The origins of our ponds reflect the changes in Croydon from open farmland, to large estates, to industrial and urban development.

“This project will help local people appreciate the value of our ponds by bring together both the historical and ecological information about them. We will also be working with local schools so that this can be passed on to the next generation of Croydon residents.”

The Conservation Volunteers are currently recruiting a team member to lead work on this project from January. If you fancy applying for the role then more information can be found by clicking here.

• BECOME AN iC SUPPORTER: For the cost of one over-priced coffee each month, you can support the local journalism that brings you Inside Croydon. Click here to sign-up as a donor

• Inside Croydon Events: for the most comprehensive community events listings, updated daily

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
• Inside Croydon is the borough’s only independent news source, and still based in the heart of Croydon
• 1 MILLION PAGE VIEWS IN 2017 (January to September)
  
• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or a local event to publicise, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com