After months of appearing sad and drained, Rush Pond, Chislehurst, has been thrown a lifeline from the Chislehurst society. A common spot for autumnal walks, families from all over Bromley have spent many a pleasant afternoon feeding the ducks and running carefree in the woods.

However for the past few years after periods of dry weather, the water levels in the pond have dropped drastically, at times threatening its existence. Both Rush Pond and its neighbour, Prickend Pond situated by Chislehurst High Street, are not natural ponds. They were artificially created as a result of gravel extraction in the nineteenth century. As both ponds have low water tables, they depend solely on run-off from nearby road drains.

A borehole has now been installed and drilled to a depth of 80 metres to draw up water from an underlying chalk aquifer. This borehole will top up Rush Pond with 20 cubic metres of water every 24 hours if needed - the pump will only be switched on when the pond starts to lose water. This scheme will help replace the water lost during evaporation in the summer months creating a steady supply of water throughout the year.

One of the main aims of the Chislehurst society is to protect and preserve trees, public open spaces, buildings and other special features. This scheme will help ensure that many people will enjoy Rush Pond for years to come.