The aim is to create "a welcoming community resource"

• Published

Plans have been made for a historic swimming pond to be restored.

A new partnership between the Carew Pole Garden Trust, Torpoint Artists Collective and Rooted Futures said it was "taking the first steps" towards restoring a historic bath house swimming pond on the Antony Estate, in Cornwall, funded through the National Lottery Community Fund.

It said it hoped it would bring it into community use and improve access to nature.

In a joint statement, the partners said specialists at the garden trust had started to look at how the bath house pond "could be cleared, identify tree maintenance needs and better understand the tidal inlet and the movement of water through the site".

The bath pond and bathing house were built in the late 18th Century after being designed by Thomas Parlby.

Reginald Pole Carew, who had inherited Antony, wanted somewhere to swim in the stretch of woodland on the bank of the tidal River Lynher.

Sir Tremayne Carew Pole, who currently resides on the estate, said, when it was first built, it was used to swim in and the bath house, where the ladies would swim, had a sunken pool fed by the pond.

He said, over the years, it started to be used as a decorative pond for the garden as surrounding trees shed leaves into the pond and humus (soil organic matter) and mud formed at the bottom, making it not a great place to swim.

"I've always wanted to restore it to be swimmable and to share the benefits with those in the local community," he said.

'Creativity and community'

In the statement, the organisations said this would help shape the next steps of restoration and it aimed to "create a welcoming community resource where people can connect with green and blue space, discover the natural environment and contribute to the long-term care of a valued local landscape".

It added "education, creativity and community participation" would be central to the project.

It said Torpoint Artists Collective would develop a programme of artist-led workshops including wildlife recording, photography and nature journalling.

Open-water swimmers, nature lovers and anyone interested in the pond's future have been invited to share feedback and volunteer by emailing Antony Woodland Garden.

The partners said a Friends of the Pond group would be set up to "help shape the next steps, bringing together local knowledge, practical skills and ideas for the site's long-term care and use".

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