04/09/2026
Great progress has been made at Lancing Ring to rejuvenate an important water source for nature – and create a new pond where dogs can enjoy a splash and cool off.
Our contractor, Pete The Pond, and his team have now completed work on the dew pond at the local nature reserve. The pond has been reshaped and relined to help reduce the risk of it drying out in the future.
It might not look much like a pond just yet, but as rain falls and the surface gradually compresses, it will begin to take shape. Aquatic plants will be added to give nature a helping hand, before the pond is left to fill naturally with rainwater.
Meanwhile, work has begun on a smaller pond just to the south, providing dogs with a dedicated place to splash. This will help reduce disturbance around the dew pond and minimise the impact of spot-on flea treatments, which can wash into ponds and harm aquatic and insect life.
Our park rangers have also been busy installing new wooden posts around the back edge of the smaller pond to prevent accidental access, with shrubs to be planted over time to help it blend into the landscape.
The team have installed fencing along the section of the dew pond closest to the main path, helping protect this important habitat from unwanted access by dogs and keep it a safe haven for wildlife.
The project has been made possible thanks to around £18,800 of funding from South Downs National Park Authority, awarded following our successful bid to the Pounds for Ponds fund.
Protecting and enhancing Lancing Ring is part of our wider Vision for Nature initiative, which focuses on restoring biodiversity across key nature recovery corridors.
The main works should be complete in the coming days. We look forward to seeing these ponds develop and watching wildlife and dogs make the most of them!
