News Three ponds de-silted in Maidstone
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Parks and Open Spaces Team have been delivering a project to remove silt from three ponds in Maidstone to their original depths and using the silt to create new habitats for wildlife and breeding birds.
The works at Mote Park and Whatman Park have now been completed by contractor AGA Group Enviro-Fix Limited, using low impact machinery to minimise ground damage and disturbance to current habitats and wildlife. Works at Mallards Way in Downs Wood to restore the islands have been completed and AGA will return early next year to finish the restoration of the banks, improve the outlet drain and install fishing platforms.
Cllr Clive English, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services at MBC said:
“The three ponds were all suffering from various aspects of deterioration so this important project aimed to reduce erosion, boost wildlife and enhance biodiversity.“This has been a great project and it is already making a huge difference to the wildlife and has greatly improved all three ponds.”
Work carried out at each pond is detailed below:
Mallards Way – Approximately 400mm of silt has been removed from the pond bed and retained on site. Silt retaining fences have been constructed from a semi porous ‘Nicospan’ membrane held in place with timber stakes installed around the edge of the pond and islands. All silt has been retained on site and the banks will be seeded with grass and wildflower mixes in the spring to support and encourage both existing and new habitats.
Two areas of eroded bank on the eastern side of the pond will be repaired and landscaped to give access to the water’s edge for park visitors. New fishing platforms, made from recycled plastic boards, will be installed in the spring. Len Valley Preservation Angling Society, who manage the pond, have offered a £5,000 donation towards the new platforms.
Mote Park - Approximately 1m of silt from the pond has been transferred to an area adjacent to the pond, allowing invertebrates to return to the pond whilst the silt drains and settles and encouraging existing flora to flourish.
Whatman Park - The pond is immediately adjacent to the River Medway with an inlet and outlet leading directly onto the main river. Silt has been removed from the inlet to increase water flow and across the rest of the pond to improve the water habitat and restore the islands. Trees have been removed, or crown lifted on the banks to increase light into the pond area. The enhanced water flow will support existing and new habitats.
Works started in September at Whatman Park, then moved to Mote Park and finished at Mallards Way. All works were carried out within current ecological guidelines in line with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The benefits of the proposed improvements align with MBC Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategies.