Hello. Since the last post our water plants and wildflower seeds have all made progress. We have a flush of cornflowers around the post and the first water lilies have come into bloom. Mentioning the word bloom reminds me that volunteers from Cleckheaton in Bloom came and helped with some of the panting. In the hot weather several Emperor Dragonflies arrived and some azure blue damselflies. Not just flying around but also landing on some of emerging water rushes. Let's hope they were laying some eggs. We have an inspection coming up from the National Garden Scheme from whom we received £1700 toward our budget for seeds and plants. We still have the information board and boardwalk to install. In the rest of JCCW it's mostly a matter of maintenance - for example cutting the hedges. But we have also had to water the trees planted in January and we have lost a few of the new shrubs.. We have asked the council to do some work on the adjacent bridleway which is becoming very narrow due to vegetation (although the bridleway is within our lease area it is not our responsibility). In general terms we are no longer strimming around trees but we are tackling the thistles in the area of the pond. If anyone is interested in volunteering then please leave contact details on our web site www.svcs.org.uk Thank You.

Since the last post we have almost used up our 57 tonnes of sand (seen in the background) by spreading it onto the pond edge and creating a small island (not yet finished) as seen in this photo. We have now ordered most of the plants we can afford to purchase and will be planting these in the coming weeks. Our appeal for donations to buy plants was less successful than we would have liked, but we have obtained a grant of £1,600 from the National Garden Scheme. Even this is just 47% of what we asked for. We will have to defer the information board and dipping platform, this year. This shortage of funds is all due to being unable to re-use the subsoil, which had too much debris in it. We do expect to prevail eventually. The rest of Jo Cox Community Wood goes from strength to strength. On Easter Sunday there was an Easter Egg hunt which was hugely well attended, necessitating the purchase of extra eggs!

Admittedly not an exciting photo but certainly an event because on February 16th the pond was full (with rainwater) and slightly overtopping the recently constructed outlet weir. Workwise 5 weeks were lost due to heavy rain, keen frosts plus Xmas and New Year but recent work (in addition to the aforementioned) has included reshaping all the soil and clay dumps, laying paths and planting shrubs. We are now at the stage of ordering plants for which we are very short of funds due to the cost of these and the number we need. So if you can spare a few pounds to sponsor a square metre this would be appreciated (I think details are in an earlier posting - if not email me at rathmell@ntlworld.com). Recently a water boatmen (beetle) was seen in the pond - so wildlife is arriving. Regards

Hello The photo with this posting shows the very first plant at Dragon Pond and the now half filled pond behind. It's the locally common soft rush and has been grown from a seedling over summer and autumn. But in truth we have a problem over planting. PLEASE SPONSOR A SQUARE METRE OF POND PLANTING Hand on heart. We’ve misjudged the current cost of planting up this pond with Native British Pond Plants. To do the job properly every square metre needs £10 of plants plus some baskets and aquatic soil. That’s 10 x 184, say £2,000. So we are £1,000 short. We need oxygenators (150), floaters, lilies, bog plants and marginals. Prices range from £4 (milfoil) to £25 (lily). We need to order in January before nurseries run out. Actual planting will be in April. Of course you are receiving this posting because you have already part-financed this pond. Without you this wouldn't be happening. But now you can see we are delivering we ask if you will consider a further donation. Please consider sponsoring one or more square metres of planting @ £10 per square metre. Cheque or cash to 111 Quaker Lane, Liversedge, WF15 8DF or tel 01274 875262 or pay direct to our bank : Spen Valley Civic Society, HSBC, 40-17-27 Acc. 11087444 (and send email to tell us via our web site). Thank You PS: We cannot accept gifts of pond plants due to the risk of contamination by alien species..

With all the wet weather the pond looks to be filling up. Though most water will be in the bigger higher levels, yet to fill. This photo shows volunteers on Sunday Nov. 13th clearing 5 tonnes of surplus clay. Sand spreading on the pond's internal slopes is now underway.

Fine weather on Sunday 16th October enabled core workers and 22 volunteers to successfully install the pond liner and overlay.

Hello We have made serious progress this last two weeks. The pond shape has been created first by excavator and then refined by hand. Yesterday the underliner was laid and today thanks to 27 volunteers the main liner was laid followed by the overliner (protective) layer. Last monday the area was fenced off. Next big step is to place a layer of subsoil over the overliner. This is the layer into which planting can take place. More updates to follow. Photo shows the main liner being "floated" into place today. The whole lot is currently held down (from the wind) by sandbags and stones. Max