Weed suppressing Matting

The First matting is laid to suppress the weeds around the pond.

Water and Plants

Hard work over the last two weeks by volunteers and children has paid dividends. The pond is now almost full with water and plants have been spread around the pond and in the pond.

The pond is starting to take shape.

Nutrient Suppression

A layer of sand has been added to the shelves of the pond to aid in the cleansing of the water when the pond is filled up.

We've used a lot of top soil to ensure the layering is covered correctly.

The Pond takes Shape

It's been a long, busy, hot, exhausting day. Everyone is happy with the result.
The pond has been dug, landscaped and layering put down. With the layering covered in soil all is complete. All we need now is some water. Oh! and the surrounding area lanscaped!

The Pond is Covered

At quarter of a tonne each, four strips of layering cover the two hundred square meter pond.

By the time the fourth strip is placed we are all getting experienced at distributing the layering direct from the Digger.

The sun has come out and everyone is relieved when the last piece is in place. It's hot and heavy work!

The Layering goes down

Lunchtime over, we start to put the layering down on the pond.

The digger uses a special spreader attachment that lifts the tonne of pond layering with ease.

Halfway there

With a 13 tonne digger, short work is made of the pond excavation.

The pond has been dug to the right depth, it's lunchtime! Coutouring and layering is left for the afternoon.

Let the Digging Commence!

It's 8:30am, the plans have been reviewed and the digger commences the excavation!

All is going to plan

The digger succesfully retrieves the roll from the truck and the lorry makes it way onto the next delivery.

Truck Number Two arrives

It's 8:05 and the layering has arrived bang on time.

All we need now is the digger to offload the roll.

The day has arrived - and so has the Digger!

It's 7:15am, the digger has arrived!

The most stressful part of the operation has started. A 13 tonne excavator, a low loader and an articulated lorry have to arrive, offload the layering and depart before the kids start arriving at school.

A New Hope

Today we have sourced a new supplier for the excavator together with all the required health and saftey  requirements.

A great thanks go out to Sirius Construction and Scott Plant Hire who are providing the Excavato, operator and foreman at no charge for the day.

July 1st it is!

A Minor Setback

We took the decision today to postpone the day of the Big Dig.

Following a complication with the supply of an excavator, a call to the council to source a new supplier brought up more questions than answers.

In order to comply with Council's extended Health and Safety requirements we decided to spend more time to get it right

Our fabulous contributors

The Pond committee would like to thank Naue & Co for supplying the pond layering in sufficient quatities to cover the two hundred square meters of the pond.

We would also like to show our appreciation form First Direct, The Co-Operative Building Society, The Dragonfly society and the PTA for donating the funds requied to see the project through from start to finish.

The day of the pond excavation is set for 23th June

Plans are Afoot!

The Pond Committee meet once more.

David Fanaroff has designed a new pond and surrounding area. The committee agree to go ahead with the plan.

We discuss the specifications for the pond dipping and the study shelter.

Paul Freeman agrees to go away and draw up specific, architectural, plans for both platform and shelter.

Meeting adjourned

What's Happening

The pond committee first met a few months ago following the desire that the school pond needed some serious work to ensure that it could be used by the school community.

A brief meeting a review of the pond established that it was not fit for purpose in it's current state.

The original excavation and placement of pond layering had been inadequate and the pond was unable to hold water in sufficient volume for it to be used effectively.

A discussion took place to establish whether we could add to the current layering or whether a more drastic course of action was necessary

Following the completion of discussions we adjourned to consider options.

Our second meeting established the need to start from scratch and following an offer to supply new pond layering free of charge we drew up plans to re-design the pond and surrounding area from scratch.

The markers are down

We've laid the makers to show where the pond will stretch too.

Work is underway to move plants to safety ready for re-planting post dig!