Work on restoring Cae Ddol pond in Ruthin, which was delayed due to heavy rain over the winter months look set to get underway in the coming weeks.
In February, Denbighshire County Council announced that the work was being delayed due to high river levels over the winter months and the water level in the pond did not drop sufficiently to allow work to proceed. Contractors had planned to use a large pump to help extract the water, but this approach was not possible due to the flooding.
The delay meant that the five week restoration project would extend into the bird nesting season and especially for the resident swans which are known to nest early. The council has a duty under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 not to cause disturbance during the nesting season.
However, the cygnets of the resident swans have now hatched and the adults have conveniently taken them downstream on the River Clwyd. The inlet valve to the pond has been closed and Jones Brothers of Ruthin have been instructed to start work end of May to mid June so that the work can be completed before the summer holidays.
Other fledglings on the pond are now of a sufficient age to move off the pond and onto the river when work commences.
Garry Davies, Senior Countryside Officer with Denbighshire County Council said: “We are delighted that the situation has resolved itself far sooner than had been anticipated.
“We have been monitoring the situation carefully over recent months and although a good time to carry out the work would have been during the recent dry spell this coincided with a particularly sensitive time for nesting birds. Although there will be disturbance for a limited period the pond restoration work is designed to ensure perfect nesting conditions for many bird species long into the future.”
“We would like to thank the residents of Ruthin for their patience and look forward to the work getting underway so that visitors to Cae Ddol can continue to sample the range of facilities and open space available for people’s enjoyment.”
