Saving Moor Pool: Why our pond needs help

March 23, 2026
2:09 pm

Moor Pool has always been the quiet heart around which the estate was built. When the estate was designed and laid out between 1907 and 1912, the existing natural pond was embraced as a central landscape feature around which housing, amenities and communal facilities were arranged.

The Problem

Today the pond is in a worrying condition. Large areas are almost unfishable because a deep layer of organic sludge has built up over many years. Without intervention this will continue to worsen, threatening fish, wildlife and the long‑term future of the pond itself.

Why it matters

If nothing is done there is a real risk that the Fishing Club could decline, the surrounding amenity will deteriorate, and the pond could gradually turn into a stagnant wetland. Species that once thrived here are already under pressure, including Moor Pool’s toads – the Common Toad (Bufo bufo), which used to breed in the pond when water levels were deeper.

What is being done

A Moor Pool Pond Working Group has been established to investigate how the pond might be restored. The group includes residents, trustees, fishing representatives and ecological advisers. Work is currently focused on understanding the scale of sediment build‑up, exploring options for desilting the pond, considering long‑term water supply solutions, and planning how biodiversity and habitat around the pond could be improved.

How residents can help

Projects like this succeed through community involvement. As plans develop, residents will be kept informed about progress and ways to support the work – whether through ideas, volunteering or helping to unlock funding opportunities.

Residents are warmly invited to support a community clear-up day, “Your Moor Pool Needs You” on Sunday 19th April from 10am to 1pm. This will be a chance for volunteers to help tidy the pool area, meet members of the working group and contribute to the care of this much-loved local feature. Even an hour of help would make a real difference, and everyone is very welcome to come along and lend a hand.

Moor Pool is one of the defining features of our estate. With careful planning and community support, it may be possible to restore it as a healthy and valued natural asset for future generations.

Moor Pool Pond Working Group, March 2026