Restoring Water Well & Pond

The Water Well

In August 2023, the volunteers investigated the old water well that sits within the walls of the garden. A thick cover of brambles, chicken wire and old wood had to be removed in order for the shaft to emerge from darkness. It was found to be 2m in depth and diameter, and to be lined the traditional way with dry stones. The water level was measured at 1.5m below ground level.

The well was dewatered with a pump, and many buckets of mud and plant debris were removed from its base. Its wall was also jetted with a water hose to improve the inflow of groundwater. A pole gauge was installed to monitor the recovery of the water level after pumping, in order to determine the yield of the well. Preliminary results suggest a yield of about 500 l/d in the summer, when the water table is deepest. More work remains to be done to make the well fully safe, operational, and durable: extending its wall above ground level, installing a heavy-duty cover, laying a clean bed of gravel at its base, and fitting a submersible pump.

After this, the well may be used to feed a pond – another project of the volunteers – or to water the vegetable plots. 

The Pond

For many years, we have talked about creating a pond, which will increase the biodiversity in the garden by allowing the introduction of aquatic organisms. The discovery of a disused garden well has provided the impetus to proceed with this project. One of our volunteers is a hydrologist and he was instrumental in encouraging us to dig out the well and establish its viability.

During a very messy afternoon in 2023, we removed many years of rubbish and mud and discovered that the well was two metres deep and contained water to a depth of at least 0.5 metres. Careful hydrological measurements established that after the water was pumped out it was quickly replenished. We already collect rainwater from the roof of our main craft building and this, together with water from the well, could provide enough water to fill and maintain the level of a nearby pond.

In July 2024, we were successful in attracting a grant of £10,100 from the National Lottery Community Fund which will finance this project. The money will be spent on digging out an area between the craft building and the well, and laying a pond liner. Two local enthusiasts have designed a pond which will provide a suitable depth of water and an associated wetland, which will be stocked with aquatic plants. We also plan to plant some new trees around the pond, which will provide an important resource for the garden and will be particularly valuable for school pupils from Athelstaneford primary school, who visit the garden regularly as part of their outdoor curriculum.

Some of the Lottery money will also be spent on refurbishing the well and providing a solar powered pump to extract water. We are also conscious that access to the garden is difficult for visitors with prams or wheelchairs and we will use part of the money to create a solid path from the garden entrance to the pond area.