Chislehurst Commons is delighted to be the recipient of a charitable grant of £25,000 from the HB Allen Charitable Trust.
This represents a significant contribution to the Prickend Pond Restoration Project.
The grant funding will help improve:
- the island and the marginal planting around the pond
- the health of the pond leading to greater biodiversity
- the visitor experience in recognition of the pond's important position on the High Street.
Chislehurst Commons has faced the challenges in relation to the Pond, in particular regarding the quality and quantity of water. This money will allow these challenges to the tackled and by improving the water, birdlife and wildlife, including invertebrates, will be better supported locally, with ponds nationally reducing in numbers over the years.
It is hoped that there will be more varied marginal planting at the pond so there will be something of interest throughout all seasons of the year.
The Prickend Pond Restoration Project Group have been working hard since last July to secure this funding and to survey the pond and surrounding areas. It is hoped that the work will start soon and that improvements will be seen in the coming year.
With the partnership of the council, Chislehurst Commons were one of the founder Friends Groups to set up the Bromley Friends Forum for Parks and Green Spaces in 2004. This forum comprises 42 Friends Groups each representing a park or other green space in Bromley. Through the forum's structure, the council's contractors, idverde, have been working alongside the Trustees of the Commons to help them plan the ecological aspects of this project and submit the application for funding.
John Hayhow, Chairman said "This grant gives us a real opportunity to address some of the issues with Prickend Pond which we have known about for some time. We would like to thank the council and idverde for their help and support but I would also like to thank the many volunteers who donate both their time and money to support the Commons work and if you would like to be part of this, please get in touch.”
Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Executive Councillor for Environment said, “This grant helps deliver an improved resident experience around Prickend Pond and will ultimately help to support the bird life of the pond and the surrounding area. Prickend Pond and the other 2 nearby ponds are deeply associated with Chislehurst in the mind’s eye of many residents and our congratulations and thanks goes to the Trustees of Chislehurst Common who submitted this successful grant application. In addition to idverde’s support, the expertise of the RSPB was also invaluable in wining this grant.”
The Trustees of Chislehurst Commons, who manage and maintain Chislehurst Commons are grateful to idverde for the support they have given, both with the fundraising and with the advice they have offered on the process.
Chislehurst Commons is a body established by an Act of Parliament in 1888 and became a charity in 1993. It is responsible for the management of 180 acres of commons land in Chislehurst and St Paul's Cray. It is run by an unpaid Trustee board and relies heavily on its volunteers who donate both their time and their money. If you are interested in learning more about the Commons or how you could help, visit the Chislehurst Commons facebook page @chislehurstcommon or follow @ChisCommons on twitter or email info@chislehurstcommons.uk and visit the Trustee's marquee at the Rotary Club's Chislehurst Summer Fair on Saturday, 8 June 2019.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Executive, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk