Light is faster than sound. That explains why some people appear bright until they open their mouths!

Artesian well - The pond is fed by an artesian well at a point adjacent to the ornamental  waterfall. An artesian well occurs where the pressure of water in the sub ground rock structure is forced up under pressure and breaks free. Prior to the developers rebuilding the site, the well just poured out across the land. Doubtless at some time in the past it would have been used to support the working farm but logically fed the moat. During the dry summers of the early 1980’s the well virtually dried up and lead to the drop in pond level. This we believe was due in part to excessive draw off of water by Thames water of sub ground water across the area.

Moated farmhouse - The moat, currently extends for around 50% of the adjacent parkland behind the old farmhouse. Though most residents see it as a smelly watercourse, it only needs to be cleaned out to return it to its former beauty. In mid summer it dries out but that is probably because the artesian well has been disconnected from the moat by the capping of the pond with a low wall.

Maintenance of the pond.  The pond had very little attention for the best part of 20 years apart from the occasional removal of the weed that I introduced to provide oxygen to the growing numbers of fish. Though the pond dried out once and many of the very large Koi were lost, all seemed OK until it became quite obvious that it was dying and the fish were suffering. During the summer it was pea green and some residents talked of filling it in.

In 2006 I started to renovate the pond by using just a saucepan on the end of a long pole to remove the decaying sludge from the pond. Over the next two years I removed 260 barrow loads of muck from the pond, introduced a good pump, restarted the waterfall and the pond recovered quite noticeably. In 2008 I cleared back all the lilies. In 2010, I have removed a further load of sludge, bring the total removed to date to close on 15 tons. The beautiful pond you see in the pictures attract so many residents of Chineham who bring along their children to feed the ducks or just stop to take in the view and watch the growing fish population.

Wildlife - The heron visits regularly to feed and is chased off by a local resident. We have kingfishers - again stealing our precious fish. The pond contains goldfish, sticklebacks, golden orfe, koi and more. A healthy population of frogs bread early in the spring and newts can be found below the surface.

Though this is a private feature it is attractive and we always welcome additional fish from people’s homes where they are either moving out, have an overstocked pond or have to fill in their pond for whatever reason.

Moated Farmhouse, reportedly, one of only two in the south of England. My interest in this pond goes back 24 years to when the original farm buildings stood, albeit the farmhouse was derelict and the pond and surrounding area flooded. Martin Grant builders rebuilt as new the farmhouse in the same style and size as the former building, turning it into 4 apartments, along with adjoining apartments where the barns and outbuildings once stood.

Four Lanes Farm - Farm View Drive Natural Pond feature, Chineham, Basingstoke (Now retirement homes)

Natural Pond - history overview.

The lady who originally owned the Four Lanes Farm took residence in one of the apartments in the new building that now stands adjacent to the pond, here in the centre of Chineham. She was able to share with us the past history. The original pond was ia watering hole used by the cattle to drink from. It certainly wasn’t an ornamental pond. It was in quite a derelict state prior to redevelopment in 1986 as can be seen from the photos further down the page. Another resident suggests it could be a balancing pool (I think this means it balances or is fed by the high water table in the area, could that be the case?)

Martin Grant builders renovated the pond and turned it into an ornamental pond feature to enhance this attractive housing development. As it has matured it attracts residents and visitors, though visitors may sometimes feel that are being spied on as the residents guard it from the few individuals who might spoil it. It is on private land.

Jun 2009 - Something has eaten the water lilies across the pond and totally destroyed them for the second year. Once a beautiful addition to the pond, standing over a foot above the surface, they have been devastated by what I found to be the Waterlily beetle (Galerucella nymphaeae) larvae. Because the pond is full of fish there is no obvious remedial solution other than to remove all the pads as soon as possible in the hope that the vast majority of the bugs die and do not return next year. The leaves are covered with a black  larvae like grub about 10mm long. More (RHS report) July 2010. Early in  the season I killed all the bugs I could find over several weeks, by hand and am overjoyed that the largest lily has survived and flourished this year.

History of one of only two moated farmhouses in the south of England

Water lily damage - holes eaten through