A VILLAGE feature which captures the quintessence of English country life is being restored to its former glory.

Rylstone Duck Pond, previously owned by Mr and Mrs John Usher of Rylstone House, has been bought by the village community and will be restored for future generations by volunteers from the district.

Donations from local people have been readily forthcoming and have included grants from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Craven District Council's community chest, the National Lottery, Countryside Agency and Yorventure.

Even people from outside the area have expressed a wish to donate, and several members of the local community have volunteered their own time to help carry out the work.

Earlier this year the parish meeting wrote to parishioners asking for pledges of financial support to raise around £2,600 towards the purchase of the pond and to cover the parish meeting's legal fees and public liability costs for five years.

Everything has now been finalised and parish meeting chairman Jim Caygill, of Manor House, said they would soon be able to press ahead to get the work done this summer.

"The idea is to restore a very attractive feature of the village which will not only benefit villagers and its many visitors, but also the aquatic and wildlife in and around the pond area," said Mr Caygill.

Even the local school will benefit from being able to visit the pond and carry out nature studies.

Work will include restoration of the sluice gate and ironwork, de-silting the pond and replacing the edging stones.

"We are also going to take out some self-seeded saplings and trees around there and replant new native trees and shrubs," added Mr Caygill.

The history behind the pond is a little cloudy and Mr Caygill believes it was originally a village green. The threat of fires to the small hamlet is believed to be the reason for turning the green into a pond so there would be a ready supply of water for such an eventuality.

Ever since it became a magnet for waterfowl and aquatic insects, as well as creating a picturesque feature for villagers and passers-by. It is fed from springwater from the fells around Rylstone, the surplus of which dissipates through the Cracoe fault. This means it never overflows.

The pond was last cleaned out around 25 years ago.

"With everyone becoming involved in the project it will create a sense of pride in the environment as well as bringing the community closer together. When finished, we will have a very attractive feature," added Mr Caygill.