June 28, 2011
A £130,000 project to restore Decoy Pond in Hampden Park has been officially completed.
The scheme, delivered in partnership with the Friends of the Hampden Park, has seen a spillway built at the 100-year-old pond, a popular family attraction, to improve the quality of the water and boost the surrounding habitat.
On Sunday, those involved in the restoration project, which has taken more than 7.5 years to deliver, gathered for a ceremony to mark its completion, with a ribbon over the bridge of the feeder stream being cut by Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mike Thompson. There was a celebratory cake cut by the Chairman of the Friends and community events including free balloons for children and a treasure hunt.
Directors of the contractors who had undertaken the work undertook conducted tours for everyone interested throughout the afternoon to explain why had been undertaken, such as planting.
Sandy Boyce-Sharpe, Chair of the Friends of the Hampden Park, said: “The Friends were delighted to have such a lovely sunny day to celebrate with members and guests the culmination of over seven years of unstinting work by volunteers to raise funds and disseminate information to raise public awareness of the need for restoration of the Hampden Park pond.
“The immediate difference the work has made is dramatic and everyone can now look forward to watching the plant development improving the habitat for insects and invertebrates thus transforming the whole ecology structure and the environment for wildlife as a whole.”
The project to improve the biodiversity within Decoy Pond was started in April this year following years of planning and was completed through Eastbourne Borough Council funding and a £50k grant from the Big Lottery through Community Spaces, secured by the Friends.
The contract was carried out by OHES Environmental, a specialist company who are well experienced in environmental management.
The new spillway helps manage the water level within the pond and prevent the water from overflowing the dam and washing out paths downstream.
Deeper water has been created by the excavation of silt and relocation of this to the pond edges where it has been planted up with marginal plants. Although not originally included in the project, OHES created an additional island to remove a greater amount of silt, which has been planted with reeds to create a new habitat.
The Friends of the Hampden Park, through donations from the people of Eastbourne through the Friends Pond Appeal, plus donations from the Hampden Park and Ratton Ward Councillors from their Devolved Ward Grants, have funded additional work to the contract in the form of the northern outlet stream, which will flow through a number of calming pools to create an additional aspect to the sensory garden.
Councillor Steve Wallis, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment said "The transformation of Decoy Pond over the last few weeks has been incredible and we are thrilled to have worked closely with the Friends of the Hampden Park to make it happen.
The pond can now reclaim its place as one of the town’s most popular attractions while also becoming a dynamic natural habitat rich in wildlife.”
Work to thin the vegetation on the second island was suspended earlier this year due to the birds nesting and this will be re-started during the winter, prior to the next bird nesting period.
