Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.

The charity Froglifeis proposing a bid the Heritage Lottery Fund for funds to enhance toad and other amphibian habitats around London. In addition to restoring

habitats, Froglifeaims to inform and involve local community and volunteer groups

through its project. Working with your officers at Epping Forest, Froglifewould like to

put forward Cow Pond, Leyton Flats, as one of the seven ponds that it is looking to

restore as part of its project.

Should the bid be successful this would see a £30,000 contract being awarded for

the restoration of Cow Pond, involving its re-excavation and re-shaping within its current area. The funding would ensure that no costs would be incurred by the Epping Forest local risk budgets for achieving this restoration. This would represent

a significant enhancement of the Forest ponds network in line with the existing

Forest Management Plan vision. This would also help to enhance the favourable

condition of the Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Leyton Flats area as well as

maintaining an historic pond location.

RESOLVED – that Members:

 approve and support the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund by Froglife for funds

for the restoration of Cow Pond, Leyton Flats for amphibians and other pond

wildlife; and

 Instruct City Solicitors to assist in drawing up or overseeing agreements with

Froglife in relation to the proposed works and monitoring on Forest Land.