Petersfield Heath Pond Works

Petersfield Town Council is pleased to announce that it has commissioned Five Rivers Environmental Contracting Ltd to undertake enhancement works at Petersfield Heath Pond, which includes:

• stabilising banks using a variety of techniques
• creating fish habitat
• removing and reusing silt from the pond bed
• installing a new non-slip board walk
• create 2no. new islands;
• installing three new non-slip fishing swims;
• reinstate Duck Island and install a new non-slip bridge,
• minor tree works;
• re-introducing marginal plant species.

The lake enhancement works will protect the banks from further erosion, improve water quality and provide habitat for juvenile fish, wildfowl and invertebrates. The new boardwalk on the western edge will be wheelchair accessible and meander through a series of new reed-beds providing a vista across the lake. The reed beds will take up nutrients from surface run-off/pollution and provide valuable habitat for fish. Dredging operations to create these reed-beds will help to reduce the amount of nutrient rich sediment on the bed of the pond helping to reduce the likelihood of algae blooms.

The works are due to start week commencing 20^th January 2020 for approx. 12 weeks with a large compound for the contractors at the Heath Road entrance to store welfare facilities, plant, materials and vehicles for the duration of the project. In the interest of public health and safety an application to Hampshire County Council has been submitted to divert the footpath entrance at Heath Road, details of this will be advertised in advance of the works.

It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work on improving this much-loved natural feature of Petersfield and we will endeavour to keep impact of the works to a minimum. We would be very grateful if you would refrain from approaching the team while they are working on the pond and contact the Petersfield Town Council for further information.

The Chairman of the Grounds Committee, Cllr Jamie Matthews states, “The Heath is a much loved place for the local community and visitors from afar. This exciting enhancement and restoration project will transform this part of the Heath into a habitat rich in biodiversity and make it a more enjoyable place to visit, watch the wildlife, fish or just relax. Council has spent the last few years working with stakeholders and local organisations to develop this plan which will ensure the pond and its environs continue to be a much loved place for future generations. During the implementation of the work the bank-side areas of the pond will change significantly until new planting has developed. I appreciate that there will be some concern about this visual impact but I’m confident, along with our project partners at Five Rivers, that this short term visual impact is outweighed by the long term gains”.

The Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Lesley Farrow states, “Over the last few years we have been deeply concerned about the disintegration of the banks around the Pond and we also wanted to be able to improve the habitat for the wildlife-birds and fish especially. In selecting “5 Rivers” to undertake this work , in my opinion, we chose the most professional and knowledgeable company that we could find.  If their thorough preparation has been anything to go by the finished job will be superb. Meanwhile, there will be disruption and times when access to certain areas will be difficult but please bear with us, once the job is finished it will be worth it to see our Pond at its best.”

For regular updates please see our dedicated projects page.