For many years, the Friends of Gresford Lake and Gresford Community Council have been discussing the challenge of removing the significant build-up of silt from the lake. This has built up over time, made much worse by four years of drought, and has reduced the lake's water capacity, impacted water quality and affected the long-term health of this much-loved community asset.

This is the fourth consecutive year of very hot weather and little rain, and this summer's prolonged drought has brought devastating consequences. For the first time in living memory, the lake has pretty much dried out completely.

Whilst this has been upsetting for residents, volunteers and everyone who cares about the lake, it has also created a rare and unexpected opportunity.

With water levels at their lowest in living memory , we can now access and remove the accumulated silt mechanically using excavation equipment, something that would normally be far more difficult, disruptive and expensive to achieve.

However, this opportunity will only exist for a short time. Once significant rainfall returns, the lake will begin to refill and the chance to undertake the work efficiently will be lost.

Work has already begun

Earlier this month, Gresford Community Council funded specialist contractors, Sweeptech, to remove sections of the silt using specialist equipment designed to extract silt while returning water back into the lake.

When work commenced, it quickly became apparent that the exceptionally dry conditions had left the lake too dry for this method to work as well as had been hoped and only 30tonnes of silt were able to be removed.

It was very disappointing that the Sweeptech effort did not work as hoped but the Friends group could see that here was a possible opportunity to dig out a significant amount of dry surface silt - the drought had created an opportunity as well as a threat! Rather than allowing the opportunity to pass, members of the Friends group sought advice through local contacts and explored alternative methods of desilting the lake.

Following discussions with a local contractor, a practical solution was identified: remove the silt mechanically while the dried out silt remains accessible.

A Huge Community Effort

One of the main issues with any desilting project is not so much about removing the material, but disposing of it afterwards.

Through the efforts of Gresford Community Council, discussions were held directly with Enovert, the operators of Hafod Landfill Site, who have generously agreed to accept 175 tonnes of silt free of charge. This support represents huge savings for the overall project and has played a vital role in making the work financially achievable.

This contribution demonstrates what can be achieved when local organisations work together for the benefit of the community.

Current estimates suggest there may be at least 200 tonnes of silt able to be removed. While Enovert's generous offer covers the disposal of the first 175 tonnes, additional funding will be needed to help cover the costs associated with removing and disposing of any remaining material.

Local People Have Already Stepped Forward

The Community Council has already committed the available funding it had set aside for lake improvement works. Unfortunately, there are currently no grant funding streams that can be accessed quickly enough to take advantage of the current conditions.

Faced with the prospect of missing this once-in-a-generation opportunity, members of the Friends of Gresford Lake, Community Councillors and local residents took the extraordinary decision to personally underwrite the funding of the work themselves.

Together, they have pledged approximately £10,000 to ensure the desilting can go ahead asap - before the weather changes.

This is an incredible example of community spirit and demonstrates just how important Gresford Lake is to local people. The Friends hope that through this fundraising effort it might be possible for them to be reimbursed to some extent, but their commitment stands even if that proves not to be the case.

How Your Donation Will Help

The work is happening now because a small group of committed individuals chose to step forward and underwrite the necessary funding.

We're now asking the wider community to help share that responsibility.

Your donation will help to:

Whether you can donate £5, £20, £50 or more, every contribution will make a difference.

Why This Matters

Gresford Lake is far more than just a body of water.

It is a place where people walk, meet friends, enjoy nature, exercise, volunteer and spend time with family. It provides valuable habitat for wildlife and is one of the village's most cherished green spaces.

By removing the accumulated silt now, we can:

This work will help safeguard the lake for future generations and reduce the likelihood of it drying out again during periods of prolonged dry weather.

Please Support Gresford Lake

The circumstances that have created this opportunity are unfortunate, but they have also given us the best chance in decades to tackle a problem that has been growing for years.

Thanks to the commitment of volunteers, residents, Gresford Community Council, local contractors and the support of Enovert and Hafod Landfill Site, the work can now be undertaken.

Now we need your help

If you have ever enjoyed a walk around Gresford Lake, watched its wildlife, spent time there with family and friends, or simply value it as an important part of our community, please consider making a donation.

Together, we can restore Gresford Lake, improve its resilience for the future and ensure it remains a treasured part of our village for generations to come.

Thank you so much for your support.