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Ancient village pond dries up in killer heatwave leaving more than 100 dead fish

Locals at Great Massingham, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, launched an appeal to raise 15,000 to clear silt from their depleted pond, called Scotsman's Pit

[Scotsman's Pit]

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Great Massingham, near King's Lynn has already seen one of its lakes almost completely dry up(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

Locals are fighting to rescue their village pond after it dried up during this summer's endless heatwaves, killing dozens of fish.

Villagers at Great Massingham, near King's Lynn in Norfolk, launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise 15,000 to clear silt from their depleted pond, known as Scotsman's Pit. More than 100 carp descendants of fish first introduced by monks nearly 900 years ago were killed as soaring temperatures left the pond drained and starved of oxygen.

Massingham Parish Council stepped in to fund three days of work using a digger to clear silt from the dried-up bed of the pond. The first phase of the works was completed on Thursday last week.

[Scotsman's Pit]

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Scotsman's Pit faces being permanently damaged without funding(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

But, a larger machine with a greater reach is needed to finish the job, which would cost more than 15,000. The funds needed to be raised by August 17, with locals hoping it would allow the pond to recover once rainfall eventually replenishes it.

[Scotsman's Pit]

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Looking across the village pond is usually one of the most picturesque views at Great Massingham, before this summer's drought(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

Jasmine Longhurst, one of the village's two volunteer fishing wardens, said: "If we can't do it now, we won't get another chance like this. We've lost over 100 carp, they are descendants of the 11th century monks' fish."

Ms Longhurst, 34, who's fished the pond since childhood, said locals were devastated at the damage done to the pit, which was named after a whisky magnate who once lived on its banks.

[Scotsman's Pit]

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Jasmine Longhurst said she's never seen the lake so dry(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

"I've never seen it in this state in my whole life," she said. "I fished this when I was a little girl, my dad taught me to fish, my son Finley's been fishing since he was little - he's 12 now. Everyone's got memories of fishing here. Everyone's devastated but the community has come together. The response has been incredible, with countless volunteers coming together to help, but we urgently need wider support."

[Scotsman's Pit]

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About 100 carp have been killed by the drought(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

A local clutching a long-handled landing net was scouring the muddy edges in search of any fish that had survived. Those that have been rescued have been relocated to a deeper section of the pond that has, so far, withstood the drought. Others could be seen on the mud or along the banks of the pit, which is managed by community group Friends of Scotsman's Pit, the parish council, fishing wardens, and volunteers.

[Scotsman's Pit]

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A local scans the margins for any fish that survived(Image: Chris Bishop / SWNS)

Carp were brought to British shores by medieval monks to sustain themselves on days when Fridays meant fish; a tradition that continued at Massingham until its abbey's dissolution in the 16th century. Dredging work was carried out at a nearby pond in the heart of the village, known as Post Office Pit, after it too dried out during the summer of 2022.

While the work improved the habitat, it has now almost completely dried out once again.

You can donate to Great Massingham's GoFundMe appeal here

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