Brighton Resident Calls for Action to Save Falmer Pond as Historic Water Feature Runs Dry

Historic pond runs dry in Falmer

A 1,000-year-old pond in Falmer has run dry, prompting calls from a local resident for improved conservation efforts. Christine Gibb, 75, from Portslade, has highlighted the importance of Falmer Pond, which features in the Domesday Book, to the community.

"It's a lovely place to take your children, to enjoy a day out with a little picnic and feeding the ducks, and it should be maintained," Ms Gibb said. "It should be an opportunity to invest in the next generation."

The pond typically dries up during summer months because of reduced runoff and increased evaporation, but is currently experiencing chronic dryness. This comes after the hottest UK summer on record, with Brighton and Hove experiencing temperatures almost 5 degrees Celsius above the summer average.

Restoration project underway

The pond, located in Falmer village, is owned and maintained by Brighton and Hove City Council. Since 2023, the council has worked alongside the South Downs National Park Authority, Falmer Parish Council and Friends of Falmer Pond on the Falmer Pond Restoration Project. The council has committed £40,000 to the scheme, which is also being supported by the National Lottery-funded "Downs To The Seas" project.

On 10 August 2026, the council applied to South Downs National Park to restore the pond through tree management and dredging, with a planning decision expected in the coming weeks.

Archaeological concerns raised

Ms Gibb has criticised the proposed groundworks, saying "they are not the way forward" and calling for the council to prioritise water supply and biodiversity. "They don't seem to want to maintain the important things, all of these beautiful sights, a bit of greenery, that make England," she said. "Once it is gone, it'll never come back."

Historic environment consultant Mark Baister has stressed the pond's archaeological significance. He said the pond is believed to date from the Anglo-Saxon period and proposed that no groundworks should begin until a final archaeological report is approved by the park authority.

Councillor Jacob Allen responded: "Falmer Pond is a lovely place to visit and is loved by local residents, which is why we placed community engagement at the heart of the restoration project. We will continue to work closely with residents and the South Downs National Park to ensure this wonderful place thrives again."

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