PCA is appealing with Prestwood Nature for volunteers to help with an autumn clear-up of Sheepwash Pond.

Sheepwash Pond, on Honor End Lane, is an important historic site within Prestwood. It is an ancient pond, at one time the largest of several on the old Prestwood Commons. It sits alongside an old drovers road and was used as a watering place for animals on their way to market.

Prestwood Nature led a restoration project in 2007-2008, but more recently the task of maintaining it has become such that Prestwood Nature has had to step back from ongoing maintenance. Sheepwash Pond page on Prestwood Nature website.

Can you volunteer for Sheepwash autumn clear-up?

Our photos (below) show that the site is in quite urgent need of attention.

PCA is organising an ‘Autumn Clear-up’ on Saturday 22nd November. Meet up from 8.30am onwards. Please wear appropriate clothing, including preferably stout boots. Please bring your own gloves, secateurs and other tools you feel would help.

It would help if you can let us know you are intending to come. Please drop a line to Karen at info@prestwoodcommunity.uk. If you are not available on that Saturday, then contact Karen for another date in 2026.

Looking to the future

This clear-up can only make a start on what is needed, not only to make it attractive, but to make it safe. A serious complication is that ownership of the Sheepwash Pond site is unknown, and with it, clarity on responsibility. Whilst PCA is happy to initiate a limited clear-up, it will NOT assume legal responsibility for the site. A problem solving approach will be needed to find a long-term solution for the ownership and long-term future of the site. This may well end up with Sheepwash having its own entity, perhaps with membership drawn from across the community. PCA will happy to hear from villagers interested in taking a longer term interest.

This should be a well-loved nature site and local amenity, and we hope that it can become so once again.