There is a beautiful little pond surrounded by nature on the Ashford Road just before the water inlet. Area is about one acre. It is not visible from the road and most of the year it is hidden by high gates, however it is there, and the fact that it is there at all is thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of the Spelthorne Civic Pride Volunteers (SCPV) who have worked tirelessly to recreate and maintain it.
Records of the village reveal that there had been a pond on the site since 1604. A long term local resident, Laurie Potter, recalled skating on the pond as a child, and was disappointed to find it was long gone. He approached the Civic Pride Volunteers, who discovered the land was owned by Thames Water.
The pond itself – August 2026.
Thames Water were delighted to hear the village wanted its pond back, and helped enormously with costs for its reinstatement. They paid for all the fencing in front of the pond and the new gates. A very large donation of £6,000 was given by BAA Heathrow in 1996, and £1,000 by BA, and the excavation to create the current pond was carried out by the Environment Agency.
During 2023/2024 the area was disrupted by work on the new ESSO pipeline, to provide access for the contractors to reach the pipeline site. This involved felling 12 mature trees and constructing a new access track through the area. The track has now been removed, and ESSO has provided 12 new tress (albeit small) as replacements. These have now been planted, and are growing well.
Now, thanks to the persistence and efforts of SCPV, the pond is once again a wonderful habitat for rare wild life, and it is often possible to see kingfishers, water voles and newts.
A very frosty day in January 2025. Little vegetation. The River Thames was in flood, causing the water channel alongside the pond area to rise. Hence the groundwater has partially flooded the pond area – the footpath on the left is underwater.
In 2025, the Pond was awarded two prizes in the annual “Spelthorne in Bloom” competition. Previously, there had been no suitable category for entry, but a new “Environmental Initiative” category provided an opportunity.
The fruit trees in Summer 2025 produced masses of fruit, much of this going to food banks.
In 2025, following negotiations between Thames Water and SCPV, SCPV signed a 10 year lease with Thames Water. This established the formal status of the Pond and its conservation management by SCPV on a firm basis in the medium term.
In early 2026, Surrey County Council provided a grant of about £1000 towards various materials, eg new fence stakes. This came via the “Your Councillor Community Fund”.
In April 2026, Squires Nurseries provided a grant from its ‘Love Where You Live’ Community Gardening Fund.
In August 2026, the Pond was awarded a Surrey Community Nature Recovery Grant.
April 2025 – and everything is growing well after winter.
If you would like to visit the pond, the Spelthorne Civic Pride Volunteers hold regular work parties to ensure the weeds and brambles are cut back and controlled. And many other tasks.
If you are interested in joining them, do contact the Laleham Residents Association and we will put you in touch.