South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has backed a neighbourhood campaign to restore a pond dating back more than a century.
The pond, near The Prinnels in West Swindon, may have originally been a so-called dew pond, created and lined with clay as a watering place for livestock, and associated with the nearby farmhouse which still survives.
However, in recent years it has become overgrown with willow and other vegetation, and people living nearby are campaigning to have it returned to its former state.
Swindon Borough Council is investigating what can be done and when, as the pond is thought to be home to a number of scarce species of plants and animals.
Mr Buckland said: "I've always felt that one of the joys of West Swindon is the green open spaces. The fact that the teams here and the residents have got together to restore this much-loved open space speaks volumes for the life and health of our community in West Swindon.
"I'm proud to represent them."
One of the leading figures in the campaign, Jane Wilcox, said: "It's quite a big pond and it's going to cost a lot of money to get it done.
"No-one really knows it's here unless they know it's here. Everybody in the neighbourhood is on board. The object of the project is to get it fully restored.
"It's thriving in spite of how it looks. Can you imagine how it's going to be when it's restored? It's going to be fantastic!"
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