Chapmans Pond
A Green Space at the Edge of the City
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A brief introduction to the site - History - Access - Management
The site is 2.6 hectares in size and approximately one third of the site is taken up by the pond.
City of York Council lease the site to Chapman’s Pond Community Interest Company who manage the site.
Which is designated as a Public Open Space.
It is home to a variety of wildlife with breeding populations of Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Field mice, Shrews, Bats , Frogs and Toads. Greylag Geese & Canada Geese, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot , Great Crested Grebe, Tree creeper, Wagtails and a full compliment of garden birds Blackbird, Thrush, Pigeon, Tits, Finches etc. Visitors include Foxes Sparrowhawk, Swans, Herons, Tuffted duck, Pochard, Merganser, Goldeney and Cormorant.
The pond holds Common, Mirror and Crucian Carp along with Goldfish and hybrids, Tench, Bream , Roach , Rudd & Perch.
HISTORY
The site was was extensively worked for clay used in brick making during the 19th and early 20th Century. There were 12 Clay pits in the area and several survive to this day, notably York Railway Pond and Hoggs Pond. Brickpits at Hob Moor, Acomb Moor, Heworth Moor and Layerthorpe are now filled in. The brick works closed in the early 20th C and in 1936 the site was still an agricultural area of the city (see image above) and remained as such until the 1950’s.
The post WWII housing boom saw development of the area throughout the 50’s ,60’s and 70’s when first Challoners Road, then Acomb Park and Woodthorpe Garden Village were built.
The site was used as a tip during the 1950’s which reduced the pond site down to its current size. It was bought by City of York Council in 1963 and allowed to naturally regenerate with minimal management input and has been used as an informal recreation site since
ACCESS
The main surrounding land use is residential.
There is unrestricted public access to the entire site which is well used throughout the year by local residents, anglers and other visitors.
Local residents can easily walk or cycle to the sites main entrance in Moor lane (with a small car park ) behind the Love to Eat Café. The site is also on a bus route with a bus stop adjacent to the car park.
MANAGEMENT
The Friends of Chapman’s Pond was originally formed in 1990 as a result of the concerns of local residents about miss-use of the site.
Today the lease for the site is held by the not for profit Chapmans Pond Community Interest Company.
Regulating Angling and combating anti social behaviour.
In 2020 the management team implemented a full Angling Trust Bailiff Team as well as Community Volunteers who have been able to effectively “police “ the site but it has been hard work.
Five Year Plan
A plan to balance the interest of all the users of the space whilst improving the sustainability and diversity of both aquatic and surface environments has been drawn up.
To ensure that the Plan remains relevant it will be reviewed at least once a year.