A project to breathe new life into a popular pond in Clapham Common is underway.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been working to restore Mount Pond to its former glory following the death of over 200 carp in the past two years due to poor water quality.

But now, with help from funding provided from anglers rod licences, a consultation will be carried out on the south London fishing pond to see what they can do to restore it.

Last week, the OHES Environmental Consultancy completed the first stage of their work which included a fish survey. Several sweeps with a large net captured 22 carp ranging from 3kg to 6kg in weight and all in good condition, but no other fish were caught. It is hoped the project will help improve the fish population in the pond.

Emma Barton, fisheries officer for EA, said: “This is a fantastic example of the rod licence payer’s money going towards a project that will directly benefit the fishing community at a highly popular venue in an urban area of South London.”