On Friday 1st August 2025 Estelle Christmas will ascend 10,000 feet into skies above Salisbury to complete a sponsored parachute jump in the name of Kings Pond. With the future of this much-loved local space uncertain, Estelle opted for raising awareness through action.
Explaining her motivation she says: “Kings Pond holds numerous personal memories for me, as I’m sure it does for many others in Alton. As a little girl, I was taken there on school trips - clipboard in hand, eagerly identifying and sketching the wide variety of bird species that call the pond home. In later years, Kings Pond became a place of solace for my late father, who struggled with his mental health. On difficult days, he would walk around the pond to calm his mind. It brought him peace. We now have a bench there in his memory, as do many other families. The idea that spaces so deeply cherished by loved ones could be lost is truly beyond comprehension”.
Her inspiration came from the wildlife which calls the pond home, noting how the symbolism of a parachute jump reflected how our feathered friends currently enjoy the freedom of the pond and the skies above. She says “Every year, many birds travel thousands of miles to migrate here for the winter. Their resilience and instinct are awe-inspiring, a powerful reminder of nature’s ability to move us, inspire us, and bring us together.
Kings Pond is a beautiful and deeply valued natural space, providing a rich habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.
Workers often enjoy their lunch breaks there, older residents bring their grandchildren, and young people walk together around the pond simply because it is such a pleasant place to be. It’s more than just a pond - it’s a community haven”.
Estelle’s jump will be fundraising for the Kings Pond Preservation Society – a resident led body dedicated to securing the future of Kings Pond as a large body of open water on the River Wey. A spokesperson from the society said “Kings Pond is a much-loved public amenity and the fact someone is willing to jump from a plane to highlight the worries we share demonstrates the esteem in which the pond is held. Vast numbers of residents are passionate about the space and have sadly had their views ignored or dismissed. Yet more
worryingly, there are still countless people who are unaware that the pond is at risk of being lost in its current form, as such Estelle’s efforts will go a great way to share the concerns we have”.
“Whilst the society acknowledge that Alton Town Council purport to be considering multiple options for the future of Kings Pond, members are concerned at the quality, integrity and accuracy of information which has been presented to the public. Having engaged industry specialists of our own these fears have been realised with our experts highlighting numerous concerns over both the proposals and information the council have released. Consequently, the society are committed to further engagement with industry leading minds to ensure that our own vision for the pond can be presented to the public for their consideration and Estelle’s fundraising efforts will go a great way to helping us achieve this”.