Saunas and winter swim plans for Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath’s Mixed Pond may quickly welcome swimmers year-round, because the City of London Corporation considers extending its season in response to the rising reputation of open water swimming.

The Mixed Pond is one among three bathing ponds on the Heath, alongside Kenwood Ladies’ Pond and Highgate Men’s Pond.

A assessment by the company can also be contemplating plans to enhance altering room amenities and the set up of saunas throughout the ponds.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, mentioned the assessment had been proposed as a result of “increasing popularity of open water swimming”.

While the Ladies’ and Men’s ponds are open all yr spherical, the Mixed Pond is just accessible to be used by the general public from April to October.

Jones mentioned that throughout the winter “only members of the Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club can use the pond, by long-standing arrangement”.

The assessment will have a look at bringing the pond into line with Parliament Hill Lido, Kenwood Ladies’ Pond and Highgate Men’s Pond.

A draft five-year marketing strategy, which has been drawn up by the company, has proposed a number of adjustments to the swimming spots, based on the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

These additionally embody becoming temperature sensors that may be considered on-line, and the set up of water aeration techniques.

The plan is because of go earlier than the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee subsequent week for dialogue with approval anticipated at a separate committee assembly in early February.