The pond in South Park has long been one of the park’s best-loved spots, but it now has a challenging problem.

Water lilies and other plants have taken over the pond's surface, and splits in the bottom liner are causing leaks. We cannot wade in to clear the plants because wading in would enlarge the split damage and make the problem worse. The only solution is to replace the liner.

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H&F Council owns the pond but does not have the budget to replace the liner. However, the Council will support the Friends of South Park if we decide to raise money to do it.

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​We would like to restore the pond as a home for fish, ducks, and, yes, the ever-hungry herons, surrounded by water plants and wildflowers, but we first need to replace the pond liner, and that would mean the Friends of South Park paying for it.

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The Friends of South Park have already raised £2,000 for this project. It is a start. Now we need to get estimates from specialist liner-replacement companies. Once we have a cost, we will launch a community appeal.

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​The good news is that although we cannot see it, the pond is still busy with frogs, dragonflies, water boatmen, diving beetles, pond skaters, and many other aquatic creatures under the surface and in and out of the plants. But of course, that means continually topping up the water level.

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Compare the photos below, and please help us bring the pond back to life.