Bid to Restore Pond to be The Next Nature Recovery Success Story

Published on: 6 Jul, 2026
Updated on: 6 Jul, 2026

A neglected piece of Wood Street Village’s history could be brought back to life spearheaded by Worplesdon Parish Council as it seeks to restore Pinks Hill Pond for wildlife and the local community.

The parish council says that few people now realise Pinks Hill Pond was once where generations of local children learned to swim, families spent summer evenings fishing and, during harsh winters, neighbours gathered to skate across the frozen water.

Pinks Hill Pond as it looks today.

Today, after decades of natural silting, excessive tree growth and dense duckweed, the pond has become heavily degraded, with much of its ecological value lost.

Worplesdon Parish Council has announced it is working with Surrey County Council, Surrey Wildlife Trust, and local residents to reverse that decline through a phased restoration programme designed to improve biodiversity, restore wetland habitats, and preserve an important part of the village’s natural heritage.

The parish council adds the need for projects such as this has “never been greater”.

It quotes from the Surrey State of Nature report, that “of the 4,242 species recorded in Surrey, around 11.5% – almost one in every nine native species – have already become locally extinct.

The restoration project aims to create a healthier freshwater habitat capable of supporting a greater diversity of aquatic plants, dragonflies, damselflies, amphibians, birds, bats, and other wildlife. It is recognised that healthy ponds are among the richest habitats for biodiversity in the UK and act as vital stepping stones, helping species move between fragmented habitats.

The first phase of the project will establish the volunteer-led Friends of Pinks Hill Pond group alongside commissioning a preliminary ecological appraisal to assess the site’s baseline ecological condition and guide future restoration works.

And the parish council says that subject to the findings of the appraisal, the necessary approvals, and future funding, later phases would include carefully managed tree works to increase light levels, duckweed management and, ultimately, de-silting and wider habitat enhancements.

It is also hoped that angling can eventually be reintroduced, reviving a valued part of the pond’s history while helping to reduce pressure on the popular fishing of the pond at Wood Street Village green.

Worplesdon Parish Council is applying to the Surrey Community Nature Recovery Fund for matched funding of £8,000.

While the fund normally offers grants of up to £5,000, exceptional projects may receive awards of up to £10,000. Securing support would enable the partnership to begin work sooner and accelerate delivery of the first phase.

The project supports Surrey’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the biodiversity duties introduced by the Environment Act 2021, and both Surrey County Council’s and Worplesdon Parish Council’s biodiversity action plans.

The parish council notes that it will contribute to climate resilience, habitat connectivity, environmental education and community well-being, while encouraging local residents to play an active role in caring for one of the parish’s most important natural spaces.

Residents interested in becoming involved with the Friends of Pinks Hill Pond group will be invited to participate as the project develops, helping to care for the site and ensuring this important local habitat continues to flourish for generations to come.

If you want to get involved, contact Marie Wingate, clerk to the council at clerk@worplesdon-pc.gov.uk.

Tel: 01483 300094.

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