If you pass up to Vanbrugh’s Echo from the house, you’ll notice the wildlife ponds that have been gradually restored over the last few months. A project supported by KWAG and the Nature Nurture team in Bristol City Council, it’s been a progressing since the end of last year when volunteers worked to empty the last of the mud and logs from it.

This  was not the first time the ponds have been salvaged. Back in 2014 KWAG  volunteers removed all of the cherry laurel in this section of the wood and  followed-up by emptying the ponds. Unfortunately, they gradually accumulated  branches and the frequency of dogs enjoying the waters meant that it was unable  to thrive.

As  part of the latest restoration overhanging branches have been cut back to allow  more light to penetrate the woodland here. The council volunteers erected a  fence around the ponds and followed up with the placement of a number of native  pond plants just last month.

The results speak for themselves and we hope that this will become an important element of the historic landscape as wildlife habitat.