Oxfordshire Woodland Group

The July / Aug 2022 drought has had a catastrophic effect on the woodland pond where deer and other animals and birds normally obtain their drinking water.

A century or so ago this pond was used by the local human population to provide drinking water if and when their Chilterns flask dried up.

A Chilterns flask looks like a well but unlike a well where ground water is allowed to seep in to replenish the well inventory a flask is refilled by rainwater collected from house and barn roofs and so this requires to have sealed or flaunched walls and bottom to prevent leakage of water to the surrounding ground.

It is not clear whether this pond is man made or has simply been adopted as a pond following removal of clay deposits. The little weir / dam is man made using field flints and lime mortar.