The wooden box that appeared in Barnes Pond this week is a planting cage, built by the Men's Shed team and put in by the Barnes Community Association to give water lily, pondweed and other plants a chance to root without being eaten by the birds. It follows the suspected avian botulism on the Green over the summer and the removal of the carp by contractors in August — the fish had been grazing new planting to nothing. Getting oxygen levels up and plant life back is the association's stated priority for the pond's health.
Longer-term plans are being worked up with Richmond Council, local councillors and the Barnes Common charity. The box is a cheap, sensible stopgap from volunteers while that grinds on; the question for the autumn is whether the slower partners can match the pace of a shed full of men with a saw.
- The Barnes Community Association has installed a new planting box in Barnes Pond to let pond lily, pondweed and other plants establish while preventing birds eating them.
- The box was built by the Men's Shed team, with guidance from the BCA's greenkeeper.
- The work follows suspected avian botulism on the pond over the summer; increasing oxygen levels and encouraging plant life are part of the response.
- Carp were removed by contractors in August because they were feeding on the plants and preventing new planting establishing.
- Long-term plans for the pond are being developed with Richmond Council, local councillors and the Barnes Common charity.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 26 September 2026.
- www.barnes-ca.org/community-blog/2026/9/25/whats-that-box-in-barnes-pond (community_update)
Claim by claim (6 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- The Barnes Community Association has installed a new planting box in Barnes Pond to let pond lily, pondweed and other plants establish while preventing birds eating them. — community_update, 2026-09-25“Our new planting box will give pond lily, pond weed and other plants the sunlight and protection they need to establish - while preventing birds from eating them.”
- The box was built by the Men's Shed team, with guidance from the BCA's greenkeeper. — community_update, 2026-09-25“A huge thank you to the Men's Shed team for building the box and to our greenkeeper for the research and guidance on measures we can implement ourselves in the short term.”
- The work follows suspected avian botulism on the pond over the summer; increasing oxygen levels and encouraging plant life are part of the response. — community_update, 2026-09-25“Following the suspected cases of avian botulism on the pond over the summer, one of our priorities has been finding ways to improve the health of the pond.Increasing oxygen levels and encouraging more”
- Carp were removed by contractors in August because they were feeding on the plants and preventing new planting establishing. — community_update, 2026-09-25“The removal of carp by contractors in August will also help, as the carp were feeding on the plants, making it very difficult for new plants to establish.”
- Long-term plans for the pond are being developed with Richmond Council, local councillors and the Barnes Common charity. — community_update, 2026-09-25“While long term plans are being developed in collaboration with Richmond Council, local councillors and Barnes Common charity, we're trying some immediate practical measures too.”
- The BCA will monitor how the plants develop and may make changes in the coming months. — community_update, 2026-09-25“We'll be monitoring how the plants develop and may make some changes in the coming months as we learn how effective they are.”
- Judgement: The box is a cheap, sensible stopgap from volunteers while the official plans are worked up.
- Judgement: The open question is whether the council and charity partners can match the pace of the volunteers.
