Fish need temporary home after pond levels dip

Volunteers looking after an East Sussex pond are looking for a temporary home for more than 40 fish after water levels fell due to recent heatwaves and dry spells.

The fish, from East Blatchington Pond in Seaford, have been temporarily placed in a large paddling pool by volunteers until a solution is found.

The pool has been oxygenated and treated for the fish after their pond become uninhabitable due to water levels dropping from a lack of rain.

Patrick Heath, of the East Blatchington Pond Conservation Society, told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's the lowest the water has been in 50 years."

He said: "We recognised the fish were struggling.

"I think they are very relieved to be out of what is currently a very difficult environment for them."

The fish, a mixture of carps and roaches, were first moved at the beginning of August into the "holding pond" after waves of hot weather.

The society said the East Blatchington Pond was being dredged in order to improve the quality of the water for when they return.

In the meantime, volunteer Nicky Wattam said the society was working with Seaford Town Council to find a temporary home.

"We are looking for options to rehome - we have a few in the pipeline," she said.

The current pool is in a volunteer's garden.

Wattam said: "It has shade and they are being well fed. It's oxygenated so I think they are happier."

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