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Long PondLong Pond is a secluded estuarine area in the Parish of St. Andrew on the north east coast of Barbados, situated north of Windy Hill, east of Belleplaine, and south east of Walkers Savannah.
There are just four key rivers in Barbados and, apart from Constitution River in Bridgetown, the other three (Long Pond River in the Parish of St. Andrew, Joe's River in the Parish of St. Joseph, and Bruce Vale River in the Parish of St. Andrew) are located in the hilly parishes of St. Andrew and St. Joseph. These parishes form part of the Scotland District of Barbados, where the impermeable rocky ground allows any waters that gather to settle on the land.
Long Pond in Barbados is fed by Long Pond River and also by the Atlantic Ocean during high seas, so whilst officially neither a bay nor a beach, Long Pond's relationship to these bodies of water in addition to its utilization as a watersports site qualify it for inclusion in this category.
The topography around Long Pond on the East Coast of Barbados is dominated by rolling hills and savage Atlantic waves. Long Pond itself is an oasis of tranquility and calm, the surrounding sand dunes protecting it from potential erosion by the harsh waves of the East Coast, and its peaceful waters offering visitors a serene and visually pleasing vista.
The exceedingly picturesque Long Pond in Barbados is not on the tourist trail, so access can only be gained via Foster's Funland or the sand dunes at nearby Belleplaine. The curious contrast of Long Pond's exquisite isolation with the surrounding ravages of the Atlantic and rugged Scotland District have earned Long Pond in Barbados several favourable accolades, such as 'the hidden treasure of the East Coast', 'one of Barbados' best kept secrets', and 'one of the most scenic places in Barbados'.
People visit Long Pond in Barbados for a number of reasons. For those interested in wildlife, ecology and conservation, Long Pond provides habitats and foraging areas for many shore and water birds, and terrestrial (crabs) and aquatic (fish, shrimp and crustaceans) fauna are prolific at Long Pond.
The north and south grassland banks of Long Pond in Barbados are also home to many varieties of grass such as zoysia, crab grass and seashore grass. Many varieties of low creeping plants also thrive amongst the grasses, such as duckweed (Pectis humifusa) and carpet daisy (Wedelia trilobata), along with a few maypole plants (Agave barbadensis). The natural beauty and diversity of Long Pond is thus considered a valuable asset both to the island's bio-diversity and tourism.
Visitors also go to Long Pond in Barbados for sport and leisure activities. An immensely popular area for crabbing and fishing, many people also walk their dogs in the Long Pond beach area - no Barbados beach carries signs restricting dogs. A word of caution to canine lovers, though: keep dogs on a lead in this area, as if they walk too close to the shoreline they could get swept out by the powerful waves that suddenly crash in.
Another sport increasingly witnessed at Long Pond in Barbados is 'Stand up paddling' (SUP), or 'Sup'ing', an emerging global sport with Hawaiian heritage. The participant stands on a normal length surfboard and paddles with a canoe paddle. This sport is accessible for anyone of any age, and amazingly good fun! Even experienced Barbados surfers in have taken up Sup'ing as it offers better visibility and the chance to catch more waves. To tempt you, click here to have a go, take a look at paddle surfing competitors at the annual kite surfing festival held every year in Barbados.
As the Long Pond area in Barbados is susceptible to damage and destruction due to development and environmental pollution, various Barbados organizations are working collaboratively to establish a conservation area including Long Pond and adjacent areas, the aim being to protect the wetlands whilst simultaneously allowing for sustainable use of the area.
In line with the 'Clean Up Barbados' project, aimed at creating and maintaining a healthier environment in Barbados, a 'clean up' event took place on September 18th, 2010 with over 760 volunteers taking part at 38 different sites across Barbados.
On the day, a group of individuals cleaned over 2 miles of Long Pond beach, collecting 2,240 pounds of marine debris predominantly washed up from across the Atlantic. Click here to see a brief film reflecting on the success of the day.
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