Woodland pond is perfect place for learning

The ancient pond at Ingfield Manor School, in Five Oaks near Billingshurst, is being returned to its original glory as part of a woodland project which began last year.

The school is run by the disability charity Scope and caters for about 60 young people, aged three to 19, with neuro-motor impairments such as cerebral palsy.

The project aims to increase the diversity of teaching by giving pupils an outdoor classroom and study areas.

Once completed, the pond will be an ideal wetland habitat to study, allowing some of the youngsters to achieve their RSPB Wildlife Explorers’ qualification.

Southern Water has co-ordinated the effort to excavate the pond and helped with the creation of a composting toilet nearby.

Clancy Docwra provided the machinery and manpower to do the digging and also put up temporary fencing to ensure the site is safe. It added hardstanding to allow easy access for people and equipment.

Catherine Allison, principal of the school, said: “We are immensely grateful. This will be a great asset and I can’t wait for the pupils and students to start using it. The pond had dried up and been reclaimed by nature but we are returning it to how it was.

“The woodland project is very exciting. We already have a fire circle and canopy and the restored pond will have decking and pontoons so pupils and students can go out there in their wheelchairs. All will use it for their studies while the residential students will use it as an area to socialise in the summer evenings.”

Kevin Buck, who co-ordinates Southern Water’s charitable donations, said: “This is a wonderful project that we are very pleased to be involved in. I already have some of our staff lined up to use their company volunteering days to help out further.”

Alan Skipper, from Clancy Docwra, said: “We always try to do something positive for the communities in which we work so we were more than happy to assist. When we visited the school and met the children it was clear this was going to be a very rewarding project.”

Report contributed by Southern Water.