Volunteers finish restoring pond near Epsom

Volunteers laid the butyl lining at Shadbolt Park Pond at the end of September

Volunteers have completed work to restore a dried-up pond in Surrey with the hope that it will be colonised by wildlife.

Shadbolt Park Pond Group was set up by residents near Epsom to raise money and transform the pond, which dried up after the concrete liner cracked.

They cleared surrounding trees and vegetation, sealed the concrete and made the sides of the pond shallower.

A butyl liner was then put down and the pond left to fill with rainwater.

Official opening

The volunteers received advice from Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) and help from the Friends of Shadbolt Park, the Lower Mole Countryside Management Project and Epsom and Ewell Borough Council's rangers.

The work was completed over four days at the end of September. The pond will be officially opened by the mayor of Epsom on 17 October.

SWT said that once the pond had filled with water it would not take long for wildlife, such as frogs, newts, toads and dragonflies, to move in.

"It's a fantastic achievement and a great way to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, as it will significantly increase the biodiversity of the park," said SWT support officer Frances Halstead.