The popular pond in Alexandra Gardens, Kew, will be emptied on 23 January for maintenance work.

The existing pump that aerates water in the pond has broken down and needs to be replaced in order to keep the water clean and support wildlife that call the feature home.

Water from the pond will be removed on 23 January to allow for the pump and plumbing installation to be completed.

The pond – which is an important feature of the Alexandra Gardens, particularly for wedding photos – will be refilled on 3 February or an earlier date where possible.

The pond will be refilled with approximately 110,000 litres of recycled rainwater harvested from tanks located at the Kew Library, the Kew Depot and Freeway Golf Course.

During the maintenance period, fish and other small wildlife from the pond will be kept in cut-down bins filled with pond water.