3rd October 2025
The third and final pond within Queen’s Gardens, located at the eastern end of the site, has received some TLC as part of Hull City Council’s ongoing commitment to revitalising this much-loved green space.
The pond has been emptied, thoroughly cleaned, and fitted with upgraded filters, pumps and a new central fountain to improve the environment for fish, wildfowl, and other pond life.
As part of the initial clearance works, all the original fish were safely caught and housed in aerated holding tanks.
Once emptied, the pond underwent a thorough clean-up, revealing an unexpected collection of discarded items including with skateboards, scooters, bicycles, bottles, glasses, fishing rods - and even a pair of hair curling tongs. The silt was removed, and overgrown plants and debris were cleared, and the pond was carefully inspected to ensure all essential repairs were completed before refilling.
After clearing decades of silt and giving the area a good clean, a blue mosaic was revealed. It dates to the 1960s when the pond was originally designed as a decorative feature not the fishpond it gradually became over time.
Following the improvements, the pond was gradually refilled, with water quality and temperature carefully monitored and adjusted as required.
The fish were then reintroduced slowly to ensure a gentle transition back into their habitat. The original planting beds have been refilled with soil and stones, and the existing lilies were redistributed throughout the pond.
Earlier this year, the two other ponds in Queen’s Gardens were refurbished and these improvements have already made a significant impact on the overall health and appearance of the gardens. In total, more than 600 tonnes of silt have been removed from all three ponds.
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “I know people are eager to see the gardens fully reopen, but work of this scale and quality takes time. We know that it’s going to be fantastic when people can enjoy the space again. These improvements to the ponds are a vital part of making Queen’s Gardens a vibrant and biodiverse space for everyone to enjoy.”
The refurbishment of the third pond took four weeks to complete.
The refurbishment of Queen’s Gardens is part of the wider Hull Maritime project, which aims to celebrate and preserve the city’s rich maritime heritage while creating welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors alike. Queen’s Gardens is steeped in maritime history and is a vital link between the Maritime Museum and the North End Shipyard, the new home of the Arctic Corsair.
