London,
06
December
2010
|
23:00
Europe/London
Community come together to refill Haggerston Pond
The pond in Haggerston Park has recently been repaired by Hackney Council and thanks to the local fire station, it is once again full of water.
Over the last few weeks there had not been enough rain to fill it. So, the Council is teamed up with Fireman from Bethnal Green Fire Station to fill the pond.
The firemen were cheered on and assisted by around 60 students from Sebright School, E2 and a team of City Year volunteers - who are making benches for the park and tidying the area around the pond.
In the past month, the pond has been dug out, the old lining replaced with a new, tougher lining and topped with clay to make it more water tight. Repairs have also been made to the old pond dipping platform. A wooden platform that where children can get close to the pond. Pond dipping sessions involve collecting water, insects and other pond life with nets and examining it. They are a great way for children to lean more about biodiversity in their local area.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "Parks are an important community resource and Hackney Council has invested in improvements to parks, including Haggerston over the last year. But it s really good to see the community coming together and helping make a positive change to their local environment.
Hackney Council has been working closely with the Hackney Park User Group on improvements to the park. Work to improve the BMX track will start in Spring 2011.
As well as the improvements to the pond, work is taking shape at the Haggerston Park Community Orchard and Food Growing Garden. An old fence has been removed, the ground has been cleared and prepared and 200 plants have been planted. So far 180 volunteers have helped with a number of tasks including digging and filling holes, turning compost, putting up fencing and planting edible plants. Edible trees will be planted in the garden on the 11 December at 11am.
Ends
Over the last few weeks there had not been enough rain to fill it. So, the Council is teamed up with Fireman from Bethnal Green Fire Station to fill the pond.
The firemen were cheered on and assisted by around 60 students from Sebright School, E2 and a team of City Year volunteers - who are making benches for the park and tidying the area around the pond.
In the past month, the pond has been dug out, the old lining replaced with a new, tougher lining and topped with clay to make it more water tight. Repairs have also been made to the old pond dipping platform. A wooden platform that where children can get close to the pond. Pond dipping sessions involve collecting water, insects and other pond life with nets and examining it. They are a great way for children to lean more about biodiversity in their local area.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "Parks are an important community resource and Hackney Council has invested in improvements to parks, including Haggerston over the last year. But it s really good to see the community coming together and helping make a positive change to their local environment.
Hackney Council has been working closely with the Hackney Park User Group on improvements to the park. Work to improve the BMX track will start in Spring 2011.
As well as the improvements to the pond, work is taking shape at the Haggerston Park Community Orchard and Food Growing Garden. An old fence has been removed, the ground has been cleared and prepared and 200 plants have been planted. So far 180 volunteers have helped with a number of tasks including digging and filling holes, turning compost, putting up fencing and planting edible plants. Edible trees will be planted in the garden on the 11 December at 11am.
Ends