Flutter of Excitement as Stony Stratford's North End Pond It's Your Neighbourhood group is o

Stony Stratford's North End Pond Project has been chosen as one of the wild life projects in the short-list of those being considered for BBC Spring Watch. A few months ago we were contacted by the RHS to see if we could suggest any possibilities, and last week we heard the exciting news that Mary Robinson, Robin Nichols and Ron Cox's IYN project was being shortlisted for possible inclusion. All fingers are crossed, and breath bated as we wait for the final decision... (And meanwhile Robin, has made a beautiful owl box, which John Mulligan helped to hoist up, and Robin is now busy making more bird boxes and bat boxes!)

Here's how their project began....

Brief Account of the North End Pond Project IYN, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes.

Summer 2010 a small group of neighbours at the north end of Stony Stratford (Mary Robinson, Robin Nicholls and Ron Cox) began clearing an area close to the dead arm of a river that was strewn with rubbish (old super-market trolleys, cans, etc) under brambles. Their ambition was to transform the site into an attractive place that would also be a haven for wild-life; and a central part of their plan was to create a pond, drawing on the over-flow from the river. They discussed the idea with friends in the town, and a local builder, Kevin O’Brien, helped them excavate the pond, providing sponsorship in kind in the autumn of 2012.

By Spring 2013 the pond had filled with water, and some volunteers from the wider Stony Stratford in Bloom group helped the IYN group to clear an area ready for planting wild flowers to attract insects. By the summer, wild flowers were blooming beautifully – campion, fox-gloves, poppies, cornflowers, rosebay willow herb, mullein, ox-eyed daisies, yellow loose-strife to name but a few, and these have seeded themselves and grown again each year. Mary, Robin and Ron also planted suitable wetland plants around and in the pond, and built bird boxes for the surrounding trees.

To conserve the water, they decided that it would be a good idea to line the pond, and in August 2014 Liam O’Brien did further excavation to allow the pond liner to be laid.

By this stage other volunteers were involved. Mike Cooper helped the initial group to move some donated stones to surround the pond. Robin made a magnificent bug hotel from bits and pieces donated from local businesses.

Work continued through 2015, with more plants added to the pond. Robin and Ron constructed a rustic jetty using railway sleepers donated by Mr and Mrs Thorn, and another local landscape designer, Dominic Harris, used his digger to install these into the ground to form a platform. Rustic hazel was then added to the sides to form a safe viewing area over the pond for children. (Unfortunately pictures of work on this were in a camera that was stolen.)

During this time more and more wild life has been encouraged and seen. Ducks, newts, frogs, fish are all seen regularly in the pond. Woodpeckers, starling, robins, blue tits have all nested in the surrounding trees and bird boxes. The group erected a king fisher perch, which has rooted next to the pond. A pair of pheasants nested in the undergrowth at the rear of the pond.

More and more people have expressed interest in the project as the work has progressed and have joined the group. It can truly be said that a derelict, rubbish-filled site has transformed into a lovely spot, busy with wild-life, following the efforts of this little IYN group.