Ashby woman revives town pond to give ducks and wildlife a place to thrive
An Ashby woman is breathing new life into forgotten town duckpond - and reviving a nature spot in the area at the same time.
Annamária Martonné has been working for almost four months in an attempt to bring it back to its former glory.
And it is all because a group of ducks kept returning to the pond even though it had fallen into neglect and had precious little water for them.
Annamaria felt the area just off Hood Park had been 'abandoned' by the local authorities and so she decided to work on it herself - even though she had no real experience of gardening or landscaping.
But when the ducks gave up on the pond, that is when she started working on the area, sometimes for eight hours a day.
Annamaria, who has lived in Ashby for 13 years, said: "There used to be a pond next to us, however after a few years it's been abandoned.
"But the Mallards did not leave the place, they arrived every March and stayed around the pond, they used to walk up to my door for food.
"This March, I didn't see them and I thought it's because the pond was totally full with weeds and loads of rubbish , the water couldn't be seen.
"So I went out to clean a little bit to make a little water for them, but the more I did, I saw a lot more work was needed with it.
"In March I was working more than 17 hours in total - only after work and was I able to do the pond, or on the weekends).
"In April I was working 36 hours in total and in May 24 hours in total . Sometimes my small son Mark was coming out to help me with digging.
"The ducks were visiting me very often and enjoyed the water, it was a brilliant opportunity to get very close to them, especially the female who was staying next to me one meter away whileI was working on the pond.
"I enjoyed working on it every moment. June was holiday time but I still did some cleaning when I was home." Annamaria told Ashby Nub News: "I was worried that the ducks wouldn't come back as they couldn't even see the water. "I couldn't stop working on it, now it's been almost four months. But the more I worked on it, the more came out. "I have put a lot of wild flowers seeds around so I hope it'll be a very colourful area eventually. "But I have to keep an eye on it, it looked like a jungle when I left it for a week when I was on holiday." The pond gets its water from the Gilwiskaw Brook which runs from north of the town and along Hood Park. Annamaria added: "I don't do eight hours days any more, perhaps two. "But I'll probably have to keep working on it." Ashby Town Councillor Barbara Kneale said: "From my point of view, we've joined the Parish Nature Network. "And I thought this was a prime site to show them and put on the NatureSpot website. "This helps to showcase what Ashby is doing along with the wildlife verge on Lower Packington Road. "I want to say to Annamaria that she's done a fantastic job, and all off her own bat. "I hope we can get some recognition for you at a future Town Council meeting. Perhaps there are also people in the area who might want to lend a hand."
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