Around 150 fish have been saved from the Big Mead pond in Shanklin after a local effort to move them into a secure pond was successful, but work to restore water flow to the historic pond is still ongoing.
The fish at the park in the Old Village in Shanklin have been moved just metres away – into a holding pond on the grounds of Shanklin Manor next door – whilst the pond is drained, cleaned and natural water flow is restored.
Usually, the water runs down from the downs into the pond in the manor before then filtering into the Big Mead pond, but a break in a pipe further up the hill has meant no water has been travelling into the pond and the levels have been steadily dwindling – putting the fish at risk.
Originally the fish were to be moved today (Friday) but a pump that drained the water from the pond was secured and the extraction was completed on Thursday after Fire Fighters were able to fill up the holding pond.
It’s thanks to the efforts of local Councillor Adrian Whittaker and volunteers that permission from the Environment Agency, Southern Water and the Isle of Wight Council was granted.
Almost £2,000 is needed to carry out the work and a fundraising page has been set up to raise the money. There will also be the opportunity for people to “sponsor a pipe” that will be laid underground with those donating able to write their name on the pipeage before it is installed.
Whilst it is understood that diggers and heavy machinery cannot be at the site of collapsed pipe for 2 weeks, this weekend – on Saturday – volunteers are going to dig down to see if they can find the exact location pipe before the major works are undertaken.
Councillor Whittaker says it is very much a ‘last chance saloon’ and that if the water flow cannot be restored the pond is likely to be drained, closed and fenced off.
Brilliant write up, thank you so much Darren for doing a good story, hopefully we will gain some more donations.
https://gofund.me/54169547
Actually most of the work in the beginning was done by my daughter SHARON SMITH and her Husband the Councillor has been extremely active and helpful thankyou .
love it, commuunity taking action together. this is what make us
Excellent effort from all those involved. I visited the pond a couple of weeks ago and the water level was extremely low. It will be lovely to see the pond full as it always was years ago. The fish and the ducks will be pleased!
Hard to imagine that likely when the water pipe was installed it was picks, shovels, spades and hard work from men and horses. Then heavy clay or metal pipes would have been used.
Now we have diggers, plastic pipes, cameras which can be pushed through pipe work to locate damage, and it is still ‘questionable’ whether the kindly caring people can reinstate the flow.
Surely private firms could offer the machinery for cost.
A total disgrace that our taxes fund illegals, and those who decide to better their lives at our cost yet a few thousand for giving years of pleasure and life to our diminishing wildlife is unavailable.