You may be aware the pond on New Road is a matter of much debate in Woolmer Green. It’s overgrown with thick foliage, which includes a non-native species of plantlife called crassula helmsii.
Some in the village feel the overgrowth should be cleared to make the pond look cleaner and more attractive. Others believe the risks associated with displacing the crassula are too great and we’d be better off leaving the pond as it is.
At the request of residents, I recently met with those in favour of both outcomes at the pond. It is fair to say that there was no consensus about the best way to handle the pond, though broadly speaking the Parish Council is in favour of leaving the pond unmanaged and the residents that turned up on the day were in favour of returning the pond to its earlier state.
There are aesthetic, scientific and environmental arguments in each direction. In order to inform this debate, I would like to gather your views on this issue using the survey below.
Separately, I’ve written to the Environment Agency and to the Countryside Management Service to get more information about the science involved with potentially displacing the crassula.
Below is a short note from Woolmer Green Parish Council, summing up the argument for leaving the pond as it is:
Despite the presence of the non-native invasive plant Crassula helmsii, our village pond is an immensely valuable biodiverse wildlife habitat. Crassula is impossible to eradicate completely, and any attempt could just spread it further into the pond, or into the countryside which is an offence. Consequently, the Parish Council sought advice from Herts County Council Countryside Management Service (CMS). The expertise of CMS has helped the Parish Council follow sound environmental practice in maintaining the pond for wildlife.
For more information: https://www.woolmergreenpc.org/woolmer-green-pond
Below is a short note summarising the view of those residents who would like the Crassula to be removed:
Many residents are concerned that the pond is not visible, especially during certain periods of the year, obscured by reed growing on the body of the Crassula hemsii (New Zealand Pygmy weed). Both Crassula and the reed are detrimental to the health of the pond due to the decaying vegetation entering the water. We want the pond to be attractive so that local residents, including the elderly in care homes and the youth of the village can enjoy it. Additionally, the pond needs to be visible to enable the children at St Michael’s school to learn about nature.