Work started on new Parkgate pond

The second phase of dredging works on the Marshes at Parkgate on the Dee Estuary has begun.

The works will create a new pond near the site of the Old Baths, which will help to control the number of mosquitos in the area and create a viewable habitat for wildlife.

The work to-date has successfully cleared nearly two kilometres of ditches which will help manage the potential of flooding in the future.

The cleared gully stretches from the Old Quay to past the Boathouse car park.  Short sections of gullies/grids leading from the Parade are also included to improve water flow management.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “Good progress has been made and should result in better water flow and in turn help to control the mosquitos when the new pond is completed.

“I’m sure bird watchers will also welcome the new pond by the Boathouse. The project is part of the constant maintenance of the Parkgate Marshes”.

The new pond will create an area for mosquitos to lay their larvae. As the pond will be large and shallow, any mosquito eggs will be laid along its edge which will provide easily accessible food for the pond wildlife and therefore reduce the number of mosquitoes hatching in the local area.

Chair of Neston Town Council’s Community and Environment committee, Councillor Brenda Marple said: “The new pond should be a great help in further controlling the mosquitos. Neston Town Council is working with partners to manage the marshes and at the same time we hope to see the wild birds using the new area as well.” 

The work has been arranged with the landowners, RSPB, using their approved contractor.

Funding for the project has been received from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Neston Town Council and the ‘More from Trees’ project managed by The Mersey Forest.

‘More from Trees’ is a Green Recovery Challenge Fund project which aims to kickstart a Green Recovery across Merseyside and Cheshire, boosting nature recovery and connecting more people to nature across the area.  The Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission. A key strand of the project is Natural Flood Management, which can help to improve water quality, slowing down flood flows and increasing water storage.

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

The £40 million Fund, part of the government’s wider green economic recovery, jobs and skills package, brings forward funding for environmental charities and their partners to start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change.

The fund will help create up to 3,000 jobs and safeguard up to 2,000 others in areas such as protecting species, finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, conservation rangers and connecting people with nature.