The last time we dug a pond it was a modest 2 metres diameter in dry, sandy soil. Our task this morning at Hallswood Animal Sanctuary was to dig one big enough to swim in out of heavy, clay, plant-infested soil which was already lined with grey ooze…..and only Beks had brought wellies.

This was the first Norwich outing for GoodGymer Penny who grabbed a shovel and trashed her running shoes along with the other six of us. Welcome Penny!

It was a daunting task, and hard work, untangling the undergrowth, excavating the mud and barrowing it away. But to keep us company we had chickens, pigs, gulls, ducks, dogs, foxes, squirrels and more cats than I’ve ever seen in one place before. It sounded, and smelt, like Old MacDonald’s Farm. We were also entertained by four-legged GoodGymer Emrys who enjoyed the mud more than most. Some of us continued digging after the allotted time but after two and a half hours’ graft we’d had enough. The pond was by no means completed but the mounds of mud dumped around were evidence that we had made a big contribution to making a nice new home for the fish which will be arriving next week