An £80,000 make-over to breathe new life into Gnoll Fish Pond is underway.
Neath Port Talbot Council is working with the Environment Agency to build a new fishing platform with disabled access, and to introduce new plants to attract more wildlife, to the Gnoll Estate Country Park pond.
Improvements are being made to the pond’s bank to provide suitable homing grounds for a range of pond life habitat. Reed beds are also being planted and two artificial islands have been created and anchored into the centre of the pond to provide nesting areas for ducks, moorhens and other wild fowl.
Council Leader, Ali Thomas, said the pond is an important feature at Gnoll Estate Country Park and attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year.
He said: “The Council has been working in partnership with the Environment Agency for a number of years to ensure that the habitat and wildlife at the pond can flourish.
“We also work very closely with Skewen Angling Club, who will be giving up their spare time to plant the reed beds during the coming weeks, to ensure the pond meets its fullest potential.
“The Gnoll Estate is part of our heritage and has recently been voted the best picnic spot in Wales.”
Richard Hancox, of the Environment Agency, said the improvements have been made possible thanks to Wild Fishing Wales, which is an Environment Agency Wales initiative part-funded by the ERDF and ESF through the Welsh Assembly Government and a component element of the Countryside Council for Wales’ Communities and Nature strategic project.
He said: “This scheme is an excellent opportunity to improve both access and habitat at this excellent location, this will in turn encourage both local communities and visitors”
