Month: July 2020

Following yesterday’s government announcement that outdoor swimming “pools” can re-open with effect from 11 July 2020, the City of London plans to open the Ladies’ Pond tomorrow, Saturday 11 July 2020, for 2 separate one hour sessions, from 7-8 am and 8.30-9.30 am, with cleaning taking place between sessions.  We understand that the same pattern is likely to be followed on Sunday 12 July.

A maximum of 30 swimmers per session will be permitted and safe-distancing measures will be in place.

Tickets must be purchased on line from the Hampstead Heath website in order to swim, there will be no admission to anyone who has not booked a ticket.

Please note it is the City of London that is managing the booking process and platform NOT the KLPA.

We will forward links to the booking system for further dates to all members as soon as we receive them BUT tickets to the trial sessions sold out within minutes and we don’t know in advance when we will be notified.

For this reason we advise you to keep checking the City of London website for release of the booking system rather than waiting for our email.

Your comments to the City of London about these procedures can be sent to HH-Swimming@cityoflondon.gov.uk but please copy to klpamailbox@gmail.com. In particular please let the City know if you experience any difficulties due to problems booking on line or additional access needs.

We understand the need to put in place safe-distancing measures as the ponds re-open. However, we also appreciate that many swimmers who have waited patiently for the re-opening will be disappointed by the limited number of tickets available, the enforced payment mechanisms which have been introduced, and the timing of the release of booking information.

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Thank you to all KLPA members and swimmers from other ponds who turned out on Sunday afternoon for a safe-distanced protest at the Ladies’ Pond, and to everyone who helped with stewarding.  About 200 of us were able to form a protective ring around the boundaries of the Ladies’ Pond from gate to gate via the Stock Pond path.  We hope this has sent a clear message to the City of London about how much we care for our pond.

We would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to Nicky Mayhew who has just stood down as KLPA Chair, after making enormous efforts on behalf of KLPA members during a very challenging period at the Ladies’ Pond.  We aim to carry on the good work and live up to her standards.

There is now a new ‘Swim for Victory’ section on this website under ‘Campaigns’ and KLPA members are encouraged to keep campaigning against the new enforced charging regime at the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds.  We have produced some briefing notes to assist with further emailing which can be seen here.  Please make use of these to assist in correspondence with your elected representatives and letters to the press, as well as continuing to write to the decision-makers at the City of London.

The KLPA believes firmly that:

• The swimming ponds are world-famous as an integral and historic part of Hampstead Heath. The methods required to ‘enforce’ payment will destroy their unique atmosphere.
• Swimming provides a community lifeline and is vital to the physical and mental health of many local people.
• The culture of the ponds is one where everyone is equal. There are many swimmers for whom £4.00 and £2.40 will be unaffordable, but there are others who would be willing to donate more IF they could be confident the money would be spent wisely.
• During the consultation the City ‘benchmarked’ charges for the ponds against swimming ‘facilities’ such as the Royal Docks, West Reservoir and the Serpentine which cater for swimmers engaged in athletic training. This is not the way in which most people swim in the ponds. Many of the women who visit the Ladies’ Pond do not necessarily swim but come to seek solace and inspiration in a safe, accessible place.

Thank you again for all your support and efforts – together we are strong.

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Photographer and KLPA archivist Sarah Saunders has also published a gallery of more photographs from the protest here.

Recent months have been tough for most of us. In addition to the threat of Covid-19 and the pressures of lockdown, we have had to contend with closure of all the ponds during the pandemic and the unwelcome prospect of the City changing the atmosphere of the Ladies’ Pond for ever.

We can’t wave a magic wand and make it all go away, but some of our creative fellow swimmers have been focusing on the positives of pond life to celebrate our extraordinary community. Take a look at the latest additions to the Lockdown Gallery for photographs, films and a new book in aid of charity by Ruth Corney featuring twenty years of photographs of Ladies’ Pond swimmers, together with ‘Pond Postcards’ curated by Highgate Festival Director Alicia Pivaro, and two galleries of her own photographs from KLPA archivist Sarah Saunders.

While you’re there, scroll up for more recent films, images and words from pond swimmers, and a tribute to a much loved and now sadly lost canine visitor.

Many of you will have seen the Highgate Festival’s pink plaques celebrating the achievements of women and ‘reclaiming pink and the past’. We are delighted and honoured to find that this year’s Festival has awarded a pink plaque to celebrate us, the swimmers and lifeguards of the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond. The plaque will be erected in September (Covid-19 restrictions permitting), proving again that we are not just another ‘swimming facility’.

Although lockdown is easing and the bathing ponds have been prepared and tested for safe re-opening, government guidelines still ban their opening, even though other open water swimming venues such as the West Reservoir in Stoke Newington are already operating.

Despite this, together with other swimmers’ associations and groups, we have resumed our campaign against the City of London’s decision to enforce the increased charges for swimming decided before lockdown (from £2 to £4 for an adult ticket and from £1 to £2.40 for concessions).

We have asked them to reconsider their new charging regime in recognition of the financial, physical and mental stress caused to the community by the impact of Covid-19 but so far they have not been willing to do so.

On Sunday 5 July at 3pm, KLPA members, together with fellow swimmers from the Highgate Men’s Pond and the Mixed Pond Associations, will gather at the front gate of the Ladies’ Pond in Millfield Lane to demonstrate their shared connection to and respect for the Hampstead ponds and other swimmers. Expect colourful masks, and two metre socially distanced physical connection as pond swimmers embrace the ponds as closely as current circumstances allow.

Please come and support us!