School Pond
School Pond is a small 0.4 ha (approx. 1 acre) rushy area to the right of the board walk, coming from Cromwell Rd.
History
- Before the Fairfield Association acquired the land and constructed the path, this was a muddy pond in a very large field, used by the cattle to drink.
- This small area and the surrounding field belong to Lancaster Girls Grammar School.
- In 2011 the school agreed for this area to be incorporated into the newly created nature reserve.
Since 2011
- We have planted a mixed hedge and a line of willows between the pond and the path.
Current Features
- The pond which is surrounded by rushes is wet in winter, dry in summer.
- Snipe are found in winter.
- There is a line of willows which provide a screen to minimize disturbance to birds from passers-by.
Maintenance
- Outside the bird nesting season (April to June) the willow is pruned and the cut branches used for stakes or for creating willow structures. Those used for stakes are debarked which prevents them from taking root.
- Cattle access the pond when they are grazing the adjacent fields.
Future
- No developments are planned.
Look out for
In the summer there may be moorhen on the pond and blackcap in the nearby hedgerow
Photographic Survey
The Fairfield Association have maintained a photographic survey of the reserve since 2015. Photographs have been taken on roughly 5 occasions each year: March, mid-May, late June, early August and late September.
Each album is arranged in date order. To find out the specific date particular photos were taken, first select the photo and then select the ‘i’ icon in the top-right of screen. (All albums launch in a new window.)
