Fears for Wildlife in 'Neglected' Walpole Park Ponds

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Residents say failure to restore water features is leading to decline

Water levels have fallen leading to 'a greasy fetid mess'. Picture: Mike Southon

There is growing concern from a number of regular users of Walpole Park for the wildlife around the two ponds.

They say that since the fountains and water features stopped working over nine months ago, the ponds have been in steady decline due to the falling level of the water and lack of oxygenation. The machinery of the fountain previously served to aerate the water.

The inoperability of the equipment has resulted in a drop in water levels and park users have reported seeing some of the wide variety of carp living in the ponds struggling to breathe and an increase in the number of dead fish with a drop in the breeding numbers in the pond. The amount of families of nesting birds also appears to have fallen and the lower water levels have exposed sludge at the bottom of the ponds causing a smell resulting in what one park user described as 'a greasy fetid mess'.

Visitors claim that dead fish floating on the surface are more common. Picture: Mike Southon

According to residents who have spoke to council maintenance staff, there is no money to repair the water works.

Mike Southon, who has been walking in the park regularly since lockdown, has written to local councillor Seema Kumar about the issue and she has said that she will investigate. While he had praise for the council staff who maintain the parks he is concerned about the overall care for the ponds.

He added, "The two ponds in Walpole were huge attractions to every kind of resident from children to pensioners in this premier Ealing park.

"The water feature rockery feeding the pond closest to Pitzhanger Manor was a firm favourite with children as they could safely stand on the rocks and enjoy the water.

"Both ponds provide a haven for many species of water birds including herons and Egyptian geese and for two years many'families' were raised on the water providing much entertainment and education for all."

He says he has spoken to volunteers working in the park who complain about a lack of engagement from the council officers responsible.

The number of nest bird families is believed to have fallen. Picture: Mike Southon

Another regular visitor to Walpole Park said, "If there was ever any doubt about the value of parks and open spaces, this was dispelled by the role they played during the pandemic when they became invaluable to many people. The council needs to be mindful that a neglected park can quickly switch from being a public asset to a place in which crime and anti-social behaviour is prevalent and it will spend more money sorting out the resulting problems than it ever would have cost to repair the water features.

"New tower blocks will be built near the park needed ever more pressure on our limited green space so some of the money the council accrues from these developments must be invested in our community infrastructure."

We have approached the council for a comment .

 

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June 29, 2022