 Following the discovery of breeding Great Crested Newts during the Millennium Festival pond-dipping sessions in the summer of 2000, an application was made to English Nature for local nature reserve status for the site.The first site management plan was produced in September 2000 and the site was officially declared Ali’s Pond LNR in April 2001, making Sonning Parish Council only the third parish council in the country to declare an LNR.The nature area has been created and managed for the use and enjoyment of all sections of the local community, as well as for visitors to the village.