Locals in the Norfolk village of Great Massingham are fighting to save their historic village pond after it dried up during this summer's heatwaves, killing more than 100 carp.
The pond, known as Scotsman's Pit, has been left drained and starved of oxygen, with the fish — descendants of carp introduced by monks nearly 900 years ago — dying as a result.
Appeal launched for dredging
The community has launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise £15,000 to clear silt from the depleted pond. Massingham Parish Council has already funded three days of work using a digger, which was completed last Thursday.
However, a larger machine with greater reach is needed to finish the job, costing more than £15,000. The funds must be raised by August 17, with hopes that the pond will recover once rainfall replenishes it.
Community devastated
Jasmine Longhurst, one of the village's two volunteer fishing wardens, said: "If we can't do it now, we won't get another chance like this. We've lost over 100 carp, they are descendants of the 11th century monks' fish."
Ms Longhurst, 34, who has fished the pond since childhood, said locals were devastated. "I've never seen it in this state in my whole life," she said. "I fished this when I was a little girl, my dad taught me to fish, my son Finley's been fishing since he was little - he's 12 now. Everyone's got memories of fishing here. Everyone's devastated but the community has come together. The response has been incredible, with countless volunteers coming together to help, but we urgently need wider support."
Rescue efforts
A local was seen scouring the muddy edges with a long-handled landing net for any surviving fish. Rescued fish have been relocated to a deeper section of the pond that has withstood the drought. Others could be seen on the mud or along the banks.
The pond is managed by community group Friends of Scotsman's Pit, the parish council, fishing wardens, and volunteers. Carp were brought to Britain by medieval monks for food on Fridays, a tradition that continued at Massingham until the abbey's dissolution in the 16th century.
Nearby Post Office Pit, which also dried out in the summer of 2022, has now almost completely dried out again despite previous dredging work.
