Sadly crassula helmsii (also known as the New Zealand Pigmyweed or Australian Swamp Stonecrop) has become established in Elmore Pond.

Many of you will have seen that much work has recently been undertaken on Elmore, Starrock and Church ponds. The brambles around the pond by the Cricket Club have also been cleared. Organised by John Bunner this involved CVPS and Downland Partnership volunteers and, most importantly, Grant Goddard and his digger. Living in Chipstead, Grant runs GRG Diggers & Groundwork. Also, many thanks to Mark Banham for allowing us to dump the 20 tons of soil and weed that were extracted on Shabden Farm land.

Keeping these ponds clear is important to Chipstead - they are much admired by villagers and passing motorists and are an important part of the environment that makes our village such a lovely place to live.The task of maintaining these ponds does not lessen with the years and there is a particular problem with Elmore Pond where Crassula helmsii (also known as the New Zealand Pigmyweed or Australian Swamp Stonecrop) has become established. Crassula is an aggressively invasive plant and is a big threat to ponds in the UK as, once established it blankets the surface and eliminates indigenous species.

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