6th Form pupils working hard to clear the medieval fishponds in their Community Service slot

A few of our Sixth Form pupils have been helping to clear the undergrowth around the Medieval Fishponds during their Friday afternoon Community Service slot.

The ‘fishponds’ are to the south of the railway line beside the footpath leading to Hauser and Wirth, and are recognised as part of the estate of the former Augustinian Abbey of Bruton. They contributed to the water management system serving the monastery and continued to do so for the Berkeley mansion which replaced it. They supplied the fish for the steady demand of the canon’s diet and for the water requirements of the monastery, other than drinking water which came from wells on Abbey Field. The ponds have become overgrown particularly since cattle were fenced off and kept away.

A programme of restoration is now underway, so that once again they can be recognised as ponds, and King’s pupils are helping with their restoration. During the first half of term, Otis, Will, Taishi and Harry have been clearing the invasive Albanian blackberry and removing the dead elm trees as part of their service to the community of Bruton.

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