digging quab pond

A major milestone for Friends of Horfield Common took place this week with the creation of the new Quab Pond.

On the first day, the Bristol City Council Parks Team undertook the main excavation. The arrival of the mini digger generated considerable interest, particularly among the under-4s. Local wildlife responded immediately - the freshly excavated soil proved irresistable to the resident Pied Wagtails, which were soon hopping around the site in search of food.

Day two brought welcome sunshine and an excellent turnout of Friends of Horfield Common volunteers, who joined forces with the Council team to shape the pond and build up its banks using the heavy clay soil. It was hard, muddy work, but progress was rapid and spirits stayed high, helped in no small part by Dave’s well timed supply of snacks.

Although the heavy clay soil made excavation challenging, it also removed the need for an artificial liner. As a result, the pond filled naturally and remarkably quickly, taking just three hours during recent heavy rainfall. This process also revealed the location of the underground water source feeding the pond.

The fencing around the pond is now in place, with a gate to be added soon to allow for ongoing maintenance. Over the winter, the clay will continue to settle and the surrounding area is likely to remain muddy for a while, so we ask for your patience. Some small adjustments may be needed if any leaks appear, and a further dig is planned for the summer, once the ground has dried, as the rapid filling made it difficult to reach the full intended depth this time.

One of the questions we are asked most often is what will be planted around the pond. For now, the answer is nothing. We are deliberately taking a hands off approach to see what plants establish naturally now that the soil has been disturbed. This is very much a work in progress and part of the excitement lies in watching how the pond evolves and which species choose to move in. 

Another common question concerns water flow to the existing wildlife pond. This will be unaffected, as the two ponds are fed by entirely separate underground springs. The common is full of springs and the Lower Common Wildlife Pond is fed by the ditches that come down the side of the garages, whereas the Quab Pond water source runs down in line with the other path.

We are looking forward to sharing how this new habitat develops over the coming months.