Fishponds Park in Surbiton has been restored thanks to funding from Kingston's Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.

The park houses a range of different species and includes a woodland, a wetland system, meadow and a community orchard for local groups and residents to enjoy.

The park had been closed due to the restoration of the park's pond's circulation system which "fell into a state of disrepair," said Elliot Newton, Kingston's Biodiversity Officer.



The restoration work has been ongoing since November 2023 and aims to improve biodiversity and accessibility at the pond and surrounding area.

£100,000 was awarded to the project, which involved the relining of the ponds, the installation of organic, biodegradable coir rolls for bank stabilisation, and the creation of a dipping platform, allowing children to learn about the fascinating wildlife living and growing in the water below.

The park will reopen on 26 August and Kingston Council have invited locals to join in the celebration, which will run from 10am-1pm.

The formal reopening will be run by the Mayor of Kingston and will host volunteering opportunities and picnics.

Robert Eyre-Brook, Chair of the Friends of Fishponds Park, said: "The Friends are delighted to see all this fantastic work taking place. This should make such a difference to the park and is something we have been campaigning for, for many years.

"It is great to see such a substantial investment being made in improving and protecting this much loved park for the wildlife and the local community."