THE public has been invited by Forestry England to have a say on the proposed scheme for the future of Cannop Ponds.

A series of public engagement events have been planned for this September. Informal one-hour engagement sessions will give local communities, visitors and stakeholders the opportunity to view the latest plans and illustrations, meet members of the project team, ask questions and find out more about the proposed scheme.

Attendees will also be able to share their feedback through a survey, which will help refine the final details before submitting a planning application next year. For those unable to attend in person, a virtual event space will be available to view from Thursday, September 24 until October 22.

Josh Howe, Forestry England’s Director of Engineering, said: “We’re pleased to be sharing our plans for Cannop Ponds and hope people will see the care that has gone into developing them. We know these ponds hold a special place in the hearts of many local people and visitors, so it’s important that everyone has the chance to have their say.

“The feedback we receive from these events will help us refine the final details of our scheme to make sure we create the best possible future for Cannop Ponds – one that protects what makes the site special while making it safer and more resilient for generations to come.”

Cannop Ponds are two reservoirs within the Forest of Dean. The reservoirs were created in the 1820s through the construction of two dams across Cannop Brook.

Both dams have had a long history of repairs to stop leaks and fill holes to prevent failure. The dams don’t meet modern requirements and so we are legally required to address the problems to ensure future safety.

In 2023, Forestry England presented four options for the future of Cannop Ponds and invited feedback from the public at a series of public consultation events. Each option was assessed against the project's overall objectives, with careful consideration given to public views and comments.

This information helped form Forestry England’s proposed scheme and, in early 2024, Forestry England confirmed the option which would be developed further.

Cannop Ponds will continue to be a much loved and valued part of the Forest of Dean, where wildlife is given space to thrive and people are welcomed to connect with nature.

A different approach is being taken at Upper and Lower Cannop, to reflect the opportunities that each presents. The two will work together to bring benefits to the wider forest environment.

Lower Cannop will continue to be a large area of open water. The dam will be strengthened, and the spillway will be replaced with a completely new structure. A more natural approach will be taken at Upper Cannop, which will be improved to become a haven for wildlife.

Forestry England’s in-person events will be free to attend, and tickets will be available to help manage numbers, so everyone has time and space to consider the plans.

For information on how to book a ticket to attend an in-person event, or to access the virtual event space, you can visit forestryengland.uk/cannop-ponds-future