Stryt Las pond to be drained for annual clean-up works

A pond in Johnstown is to be drained ahead of its annual clean-up and litter removal.

The Stryt Las pond is drained by rangers each year to give the lake bed a clean and remove the fish – which are netted by Natural Resources Wales and relocated to another pond or a lake that needs stocking. They’re removed to prevent them from eating the the rare and protected Great Crested Newts that live on the site.

As part of the clean-up litter is removed from the pond – with traffic signs, bikes, thousands of cans / bottles and shopping trolleys all found in recent years!

The ducks and swans that live on the lake at Stryt Las are free to fly to other ponds, as they often do, returning at a later date. The ranger has asked that visitors to the park do not feed the ducks. Feeding the ducks and swans encourages the birds to be less fearful of people, which makes them more vulnerable, especially to dogs, a particular problem while the lake is drained.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Stryt Las is a designated Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and we are very fortunate to have such an area on our doorstep.

“The rangers do a great job looking after the area and regular visitors to the park will be used to this annual clean up.”

If you would like to help the rangers clean out the lake, please give the rangers a call on 01978 822780. Once the fish have been caught and the rubbish cleared the lake will be allowed to refill naturally.