Pevensey Road Ponds, Thursday April 17th, 2014

The ponds at Pevensey Road have been designed as a refuge for fish and other aquatic life in the event of any pollution incident on the River Crane in west London. They also provide additional flood storage to protect downstream homes and businesses. The ponds also recreate habitat that would have been common along our rivers, formed as a river meanders with seasonal flooding, and then being occasionally replenished during periods of high water. In the past, rivers were straightened and deepened to channel water away, but this intervention was damaging to the ecology of our rivers. As such the series of ponds provide important habitat for a range of animals and plants, which had been lost. Since the ponds were dug a couple of years ago, the vegetation has responded well, and with some sensitive planting taking place last year, are now home to a wide range of species.
Today's task, in conjunction with Richmond's TCV group, was to dig out the channel linking the ponds with the river to enable water from the river to inundate the ponds at moderately high water levels, and thus serve the purpose of a refuge. Excess tree debris was also cleared from the ponds, to prevent them from becoming silted up.
Today's photographs were taken by volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

Dave literally gets stuck in, and digs out the silted-up channel. 

The team works to move barrow-loads of silt.

The re-excavated channel will form a better connection with the River Crane in the distance. 

Another barrow is filled with silt.

The ponds have become a little stagnant. 

Fallen trees provide excellent habitat for mosses and fungi.

A bracket fungus. 

A fallen willow sends shoots upwards. 

Several large alder trees can be found here.

Chris clears tree debris from a pond. 

The ditch-digging is completed and the channel is reconnected with the river. 

The delicate flowers of ground ivy.

Native bluebells are abundant in the nearby woodland. 

Marsh marigolds, planted in early 2013, are now in full bloom (Photo by Chris).

Just a short distance from the busy Hanworth Road, the nature reserve at Pevensey Road is very tranquil.

The scene in March 2013 is a contrast to 13 months later, below (Photo by Chris).

April 2014 (Photo by Chris).