VILLAGERS in one of Wiltshire’s smallest communities have helped remove nearly 50,000 gallons of silt which was threatening wildlife and ecology at its famous duck pond.

They have repaired the pond’s traditional stone walls and undertaken other work as part of a £10,000 environmental scheme.

The pond adjoining the village green at tiny Alderton near Luckington boasts around 20 different species of duck and regularly attracts visitors and parties of people.

It is also an important part the local drainage system with surplus water from nearby farmland channeled through culverts into the south east corner of the pond.

However, a recent survey revealed that silt which had slowly built up over the years was now up to 90cms deep.

Local trustees who run the pond on behalf of the village, which has just 32 houses, applied for funds to help them remove the silt before the situation further deteriorated.

The project was funded by grants of £10,000 from Awards for All (the National Lottery), £4,000 from The Hills Group Ltd and £500 from Luckington and Alderton Parish Council.

The Hills contribution became available through the Landfill Communities Fund administered for the company by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

As work got underway a band of villagers rolled up their sleeves and contributed 296 hours of voluntary labour, assisted by members of the Cotswold Wardens.

A 4,000 gallon tanker lorry and a ‘jetvac’ vehicle were provided by the company William Gilder while structural repairs to the walls were undertaken by Andy Witt Builders.

Trustee and Treasurer of the Alderton Village Pond & Green Trust George Lynham said: “This was a very important project for the village. Our pond is very well known and people go out of their way to come and see it.

“It’s not unusual to see a minibus pull up with parties of elderly people or school children who have come to see the ducks. There’s nothing else like in North Wiltshire, as far as I am aware.

“However, we have to take action to get rid of the build-up of silt and we have now removed almost 50,000 gallons, which us 200,000 litres.

“It was a really good community effort with ten people from the village getting stuck in and helping to complete all the work in a week.”