Roydon Pond Gets A Facelift

Lock Lane Pond, Roydon has had a facelift in a project supported by Roydon Countrycare, Epping Forest District Council’s Countrycare (Countryside section) and Land Drainage section.

The pond, which is thought to be at least 150 years old, was almost totally silted up and had very little water in it. It scored highly in a survey looking at some of the 46 ponds in the parish of Roydon.

It is thought to have started life as an ornamental pond or a bed for watercress, as it appears to have had ornate railings around its boundary. In the late 80s some trees were planted by Roydon Countrycare around the perimeter of the pond.

Work on Lock Lane pond started on 21 November. Overseen by staff from the Council’s Land Drainage Section, contractors Pearl Land Drainage excavated years of silt from the pond to breathe new life back into the pond and establish an area of permanent open water. The old fencing and barbed wire will be removed and a new hedgerow will be established from the pond and up the lane.

During National Tree Week pupils from Roydon Primary School took part in a tree planting exercise. Volunteer Days to help plant the hedge and complete the work around the pond also took place.

The cost of the work is expected to come to £2,500 and this will be shared between Roydon Countrycare and Epping Forest Countrycare.

“Lock Lane Pond has tremendous potential for creating and nurturing wildlife habitats and providing a pleasant leisure resource for local people,” said Councillor Derek Jacobs, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Protection. “It is a very worthwhile project for Roydon.”