Matfield Pond – Fishing

At its meeting on 7^th September, the Parish Council discussed the effects of the extreme and prolonged summer heatwave and lack of rainfall on Matfield Pond. The need to remove the fish had not been anticipated following the work done to improve the pond in 2022 and it was heartening that local residents gave their time to work with the Parish Council to save as many as possible when the situation deteriorated.

 The  Environment Agency had previously advised the Council not to put fish back into the pond after the work in 2022 because it is essentially ornamental and is not fed by any natural watercourse.  At that time, the Council took the decision that this was still something that many residents wanted and agreed to re-stock with native species.

The events of this summer, however, and the likelihood of further very hot summers in future, has now led the Council to decide it is not appropriate to re-stock the pond again.  There are likely to be a number of fish still remaining, however, which will breed, and therefore the pond will be retained as a fishery with local children able to enjoy this local activity.

The reason that the pond had to be emptied with all fish removed in 2022 was because someone had introduced an invasive non-native species.  We do ask that members of the public not to put any fish or other wildlife into Matfield Pond as the implications can prove catastrophic, and very costly, and this must be avoided.

The Council will continue to monitor the water health, add Siltex and anti-fungicidal dye when needed and should there be a need to remove more fish in years to come this can be done as a planned exercise.  With a considerable reduction in the numbers of fish this should not present such a problem as was experienced this year.

Other work on the pond, including the reduction in the size and number of the mature trees, which themselves extract much water, and the removal of many of the rushes, reeds and other vegetation where it has overgrown, will continue to be managed on an annual contract basis.  It is also hoped that volunteer work days may be arranged as an opportunity to keep the community interest and engagement with the area.

There continue to be various suggestions made about the pond and these have been investigated before, notably in 2022 when options for a borehole and other digging-out projects were considered.  It must be remembered that the pond is in a conservation area, that removal of any silt away from the pond is hugely costly, requires a licence and a location to take it to and that the clay liner, which continues to work as a barrier to prevent leaking, cannot be breached. 

The Parish Council has weighed up the matter and discussed it extensively in meetings open to the public, and remains committed to protecting the pond and surroundings in the most suitable and sensitive way.