VIDEO: Balcombe school pond project blossoms

The spring sun shone its spotlight as parents gathered, squeezing forward to listen to the speeches, while children filled the spaces in between their legs, to spy out the aquatic life below.

The pond has taken a year of labour to build at the 149-pupil school. A hard core of volunteer parents, a support crew of willing friends and a helping of local businesses have all given generously to make it happen.

At the grand opening, assistant head teacher Anthony Evans told the onlookers: “We are sure you will agree that this part of the school grounds has undergone an incredible transformation. It is now quite unrecognisable.

“What has been created is a fantastic outdoor learning resource that will be enjoyed for many years to come.”

Mr Evans said the pond with its pontoons, rocks and abundance of flowering, flying and wriggling pond life, was a “magical environment” but one that had not materialised by any waving of a wand.

He said: “It took a lot of hard work, energy and commitment of time from our community. Many people need to be thanked today.”

The idea for the pond was conceived at a governors’ meeting with the project led by parent Caroline Rix, a governor for six years until Robbie, her second child to attend the school, left last summer.

In keeping with giving names to different areas of the school, the pond has now been called The Rix, after Caroline and her family.

She said: “I can’t quite believe it has finally happened.”

Caroline, who formerly worked at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Ardingly, said that, ultimately, The Rix was a place of calm where the children of Balcombe School could go regularly to look at pond life, observe lifecycles and reflect on the delicate balance of their environment.

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