Lesnes Abbey contains several medium-sized ponds which support a range of breeding amphibians including common frogs and smooth newts. Common toads have been recorded breeding on the site, however at present the waterbodies on site do not offer optimum breeding habitat for this species and they occur in low numbers. Pine Pond is a suitable size to act as a breeding pond for common toads, however prior to 2019 it was in need of significant restoration as it had large amounts of overhanging trees and scrub, significant accumulation of leaf litter and silt/mud which had built up over the years and lacked suitable submergent native vegetation resulting in low oxygen levels and low invertebrate biodiversity. Improvement of these conditions was required to promote suitable opportunities for toads to spawn.
Leaf litter build up and rhododendron on banks 
Surrounding scrub and lack of aquatic vegetation
The following restoration works on Pine Pond were carried out in March 2019:
- The pond was nearly completely drained of water by a large mechanical pump.
- Contractors used mechanical diggers to remove significant amounts of debris from the pond floor including leaf litter, silt, mud and stones.
- Rhododendron surrounding the pond was cut back and treated to avoid re-growth. The water was left to infill naturally as the pond receives water from surrounding higher ground.
When the pond was assessed in April 2019 the water was clear and there was no leaf litter accumulation. There were no submergent aquatic plants in the pond but this was not expected so soon after the restoration work. The banks surrounding Pine Pond had been cleared of rhododendron and were neatly smoothed. There were shoots of reeds already emerging from the restored banks, indicating that terrestrial plant growth would be quickly restored.
Clear water, smooth banks free of rhododendron, and reeds emerging from banks
2021 Updates
As of Spring 2021, Pine Pond is looking a lot healthier with aquatic vegetation such as marsh marigold, water mint, soft rush, water forget-me-not and yellow flag iris. A survey found smooth newts and common frogs using the pond – with lots of tadpoles to start a new generation!