MEMBERS of the Hartley Mauditt Pond Angling Society were astounded when an antipodean wetland plant, which appears to have done nothing for years, suddenly shot up, in a matter of weeks, to a height of around 14 feet to disappear into the overhanging branches of surrounding trees and burst into a profusion of flame-coloured flower heads.

According to club member Alec Baker, the plant, thought to be a New Zealand phormium, was transplanted from a fellow member’s garden some two years ago to encourage people to walk around the pond and, thanks to recent warm weather, this year it seems to have achieved its purpose.

Hartley Mauditt pond, located opposite the tiny Church of St Laurence, was originally built on the site of a Roman well. Now part of the Butler farming estate, it has been leased by the angling club since 1981 and contains bream, carp and silver fish. It is used by members for recreational fishing where the fish are not eaten but caught and then released back into the water.

At the moment, according to Mr Baker, the pond is closed for fishing, due to low water levels.