EVERYTHING is going swimmingly at Beechwater pond today.The pond, in Chantry Park, is undergoing a complete makeover with reeds being removed, trees pruned back and new species being introduced.

EVERYTHING is going swimmingly at Beechwater pond today.

The pond, in Chantry Park, is undergoing a complete makeover with reeds being removed, trees pruned back and new species being introduced.

And the work is on schedule, as diggers have just arrived to begin the process of desilting.

This has meant that hundreds of fish have had to be removed and placed at a professional storage fishery.

They will be returned as soon as the process is complete along with an additional species, bream.

Bream is a favourite among anglers and, as Beechwater is the only park pond in Ipswich where fishing is allowed, the fish should be a welcome addition.

Max Stocker, spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: "This is among work being done to improve fishing at the site.

"Work is also be carried out to construct fishing platforms.

"We are also improving the pond as a landscape feature with breaks in the trees making it easier to see the pond.

"This will increase the wind which is important to oxygenate the water for the fish."

Ipswich Borough council's Community Improvement Programme funded the project after requests were made by Chantry Youth Forum and Chantry Community Forum and the work has cost more than £50,000.

It is believed that the pond was constructed between 100 and 150 years ago and since then little work has been done to maintain it.

This has led to a degree of silting and an invasion of reed beds, resulting in a fifty per cent reduction in the pond's size.

The banks have also decayed to an extent and are to be reinforced with timber to make them safer.

Beechwater pond should be completely finished by next summer, although a specific date has not been set.