Keeping The Tradition Alive

Consols Pond is a former mining pond situated at grid ref: SW50584 39895, Hellesveor, St Ives. For approximately 100 years it has been used by the community of St Ives to sail modal yachts on Good Friday and by youngsters fishing for tadpoles, newts and sticklebacks to name but a few. In more recent years, probably due to parental fears keeping children closer to home, less and less children have used the pond for pond dipping.

Unfortunately, due to a breakdown in communications the pond was not cleared in time for the Good Friday boating in 2009. As a result the Consols Pond Association was formed to ensure that this important local tradition was not lost forever. In an attempt to raise community awareness of the pond, I had an information stall at the Ayr Field Fun Day event back in July. Pictures of pond creatures were displayed on the table and children were asked to match the correct name to the creature. I was astonished by the number of children who could not identify even the tadpole correctly. In an attempt to redress this situation, Consols Pond Association is looking for funding from the Lottery Awards for All Fund to install a decked platform on the Zennor Road side of the pond. This would enable easier and safer access to the pond for pond dipping events.

We are currently waiting for the Environment Agency consents and as soon as permission is received Cornwall Council will be carrying out a major clearance of the pond. Watch this space for regular updates!