Falmer Pond restoration – tree management work starts next week

Work to manage the trees surrounding Falmer pond and improve water quality and biodiversity will start next week.

The work, which includes reducing the canopy and removing several trees, is being carried out as part of the Falmer Pond Restoration Project - a partnership between the council, South Downs National Park Authority, Falmer Parish Council, and the Friends of Falmer Pond.

This project is part of the wider Downs to the Sea project made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The work is due to start on 9 February and last for four days.

Naturally occurring

Falmer Pond is the city’s only naturally occurring small lake and is filled from water that runs off local roads and fields. During summer months it often dries up, due to a combination of lack of rain and silt caused mainly by leaf litter from nearby trees.

Rotting leaves also affect oxygen levels in the pond, which can reduce the diversity of underwater life.

Removing trees and reducing the canopy above the pond will:

•            Reduce the number of leaves falling into the pond.

•            Reduce shade, to enable more flora and fauna to establish around the pond edges.

Trees retained will be managed to reduce the overall height and amount of leaf litter produced.

The site ranger will work with local volunteers to create habitat piles around the pond edge, using material created by the tree management work.

Park rangers will also be monitoring biodiversity to see if the area around the pond has retained a seed bank from before it was shaded.

No memorial trees will be affected.

Increasing biodiversity

Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport, Recreation and Libraries, said: “It’s great to see work starting on this exciting project which will improve water quality, protect and increase biodiversity and secure the future of this historic and much-loved village pond for years to come.

“It also marks an important step forward in the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported ‘Downs to the Sea’ project, which highlights the importance of water and wetlands in the water-stressed South East of England.”

Looking forward

Melanie Cutress, Chair of Falmer Parish Council, added: “Falmer village residents are looking forward to the restoration work beginning on Falmer pond and seeing it gradually return to good health.”

Permission for the work, which was recommended by the council’s arboriculture team and reviewed by the Biodiversity Officer and a South Downs National Park Ranger, was granted in June last year.

All work will be carried out in compliance with British Standard 3998:2010 ‘Tree Work Recommendations.’