Yorkshire Gardens Trust has offered us a grant of £500 towards the removal of silt and vegetation from the pond.  Paxman Landscapes have commenced clearing out the Lower Pond (7 November 2008).  The initial 'dig' revealed that the pond is much deeper than we first thought and appears to have been 'carved'  out of the sandstone, after further examination the pond appears to be concrete lined.  All the contents of the pond will be dried out and used as compost in the lower areas of the park.  The pictures below show the pond before work began, Paxmans digger commencing the clear out and John Ross digging to reveal the pond wall.

9 - 11 March 2009 Paxman Landscapes have been clearing the pond for 3 days and it is a much bigger job than first anticipated.  They will return next week to complete the clearance.

16 March 2009.  Jason Mallinson, experienced potholer and climber, prepares to remove the laurel from the cliff face.
 

Job Done!. 

Paxman Landscapes carried out further clearance of the pond on 18th & 19th March.  A shelf has been created at the front for aquatic plants.
 

Community Grant Scheme

In February 2009 we were awarded a grant of £3,000 through the Kirklees Council Community Grant Scheme in partnership with Crosland Moor Junior School to build a pond dipping platform.

Further investigation 29 March 2009.  On 1 April we met with BTCV to discuss the siting of the pond dipping platform and what further work needs to be done.   In May we received a quote from BTCV for the work which is acceptable to the committee and it is hoped that work will commence in August 2009.

August 2009 - the pond has partially filled with rainwater.

On 9 December 2009 BTCV returned to the site to investigate the depth of the pond. Following a wet Autumn it has filled up and we are now able to establish the height of the pond dipping platform.  BTCV hope to start work in January 2010.
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Platform finished 18 March 2010 - the BTCV team test the platform.  

Thank you to BTCV for all their hard work and Kirklees Council for the Community Grant.  The project was difficult mainly due to the location at the bottom end of the park and all materials were carried down.  Thanks also go to John Mason and his work team who provided some assistance in clearing the pond.  Jason Mallinson has since cleared more vegetation from the cliff face and viewing platforms.  A good team effort.
The area to the left of the pond will be planted up shortly, Kirklees Council will construct a new fence with locking gate and a Geology information board will give visitors details of the rock formation.