Wildlife haven: the new duclkhouse on the pond in Sanderstead
People passing Sanderstead pond, at the top of Sanderstead Hill, may have noticed that there’s freshly painted new duck house sitting proudly in position.
New housing: the Sanderstead duck house marks the centenary of the SRA
The green space, known as The Gruffy, has long had a place of sanctuary in the pond for ducks and coots, but the previous one had seen better days and needed replacing.
The Sanderstead Residents’ Association, which this year celebrates its centenary, has supported the installation of the new duck house. The SRA will in due course be organising litter picks and perhaps some pond weeding, too, to help the duck house’s new residents.
Membership of the Sanderstead Residents’ Association is £10 per year. For more information about the activities of the SRA, click here.
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Surprised Philp didn’t claim it on his MP’s expenses?
There have been no mallards, moorhens or canada geese in and around the pond for nearly a year now. Even the black headed gulls were missing this winter and spring. Last spring I noticed an oily slick on the surface of the pond. The following week there were dead fish floating on the surface. My email to the council reporting this was never replied to.
The spread of lilies last summer covered in the area of around 70% of the pond surface and the surface algae is also a huge problem. No wonder the ducks departed for pastures new. One can only guess that the pond is a part of council money saving.
it needs weeding and dredging IMO
Like the town hall
Would be terrific, Ev, if you could get more detail on your observations. Am sure that the RA should be able to assist.
The pond at Warlingham has been neglected for so long as to be almost no longer existing.
There is some on-going work on the ponds of Croydon, and this could be an important area of coverage.
Nice of Sanderstead Residents’ Association to pay for a new duck house, but litter picks are unnecessary. They should just complain to their councillors – Lynne Hale, Yvette Hopley and Helen Redfern – that the council is not doing the job it is paid to do