Hammonds Pond in Carlisle has some stunning new interpretation boards, thanks to the combined effort of a community group, the council, a local artist and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The interpretation boards at Hammonds Pond were well-known to users of the park but during recent years, they'd become tired and defaced by vandalism. Volunteers at The Friends of Hammonds Pond had been discussing the possibility of installing new boards and were keen to see the involvement of local young people in the project.

Conversations over two years ago with Colin Glover, the then leader of Carlisle City Council and Currock and Upperby Councillor, led to Ruth Alcroft of Cumbria Wildlife Trust getting involved. Ruth was working on Nextdoor Nature, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which aimed to support communities to engage with nature on their doorstep.

Ruth got in touch with St Margaret Mary School who suggested their Year 6 pupils could help research the nature and wildlife that lived in an around Hammonds Pond, resulting in a class visit to the site and an array of fact files and illustrations.

 Ruth Alcroft, who is now Volunteer Manager for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “It all came together very quickly. The students had finished their SATs and had the capacity to do the research we needed. With their teachers, they visited the park and made really detailed sketches of the insects, plants and animals they observed. From there, they created a beautiful range of work covering the variety of wildlife, from bees and bullfinches, to spiders and swans. 

“Their work was absolutely stunning, so good that the managers of the park café offered to display it for us during the last summer break. It’s wonderful that Sophie Feinhols, local artist at Little Stringers Design Studio, was inspired by the children’s work and has now brought it into her own work so beautifully in her design of these new information boards. I’m delighted that all of this work will be on display, showcasing the local wildlife and history here at Hammonds Pond.”

Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “Communities in Carlisle worked together to produce three new information boards and we are delighted with the outcome. The boards have three themes - wildlife in the wooded area, wildlife in the pond and history of Hammonds Pond. We hope they will be enjoyed for many years to come by visitors to the park.”

Hammonds Pond is a former brick works and now a popular recreational area for the local community. It’s a great place to see wildlife, including swans, mallards, moorhens and coots.  

Any groups or individuals who would like to work with us, to take action for nature in their local community, please email us at community@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Nextdoor Nature was a UK-wide £5 million programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Find out more about our other Nextdoor Nature projects.

Left to right, above: Sophie Feinhols, artist; Ruth Alcroft, Cumbria Wildlife Trust; Year 6 Head Boy and Girl of St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School; June Turnbull, Emma Davidson and Colin Glover, Friends of Hammonds Pond; Jon May, Cumberland Council.