Need tips on how to fill in a pond..

[Charingcrossbun]

We rent as have a tiny garden 1/3 of which is a pond (120cm long, 50cm wide with various depths). This was the pride and joy of the deceased father of our landlord. When we moved in all the wiring to the pond was declared unsafe and ripped out leaving a pond full of goldfish with no pump but lots of lillies. This was 2 yes ago at first fish died (I kicked up a fuss but it was clear the landlords didn't care and we couldn't afford to do anything) but they seemed to find their own equilibrium. The pond is now teaming with fish. The problem is I now have a baby, soon to be toddler and the pond is not safe. Even if we found a way to cover it it's in a sort of rockery with is sharp and dangerous. It is concrete without any sort of liner.
So my question is: how do I go about filling it in? Will people collect the fish if I put them up for free on gum tree or similar? Could I release them into a pond somewhere or would that damage the Eco system?
This seems a silly post now I read it back but I don't want to harm/kill the fish and I have no idea where to start!

2 years not 2 yes obv

Have you discussed getting rid of the pond with your landlord?

Not yet. I will do of course but want to go to them with a plan rather than a problem. I don't think they will be fussed, after all they were happy for the pump to be removed and all the fish die...(not that they all died
But we didn't know that at
The time iyswim)

No, you cannot release the fish anywhere into the wild, it's illegal. So don't do that, you could get busted for it (it's happened before). You can release them into a contained, private pond if you have the pond owner's permission.

There are loads of Facebook groups for rehoming pets, also try gardening groups.

You could also try your local council to see if there are any ponds in parks or gardens that you could rehome the fish to, or any places that are likely to have a garden or grounds with a pond- hospitals, retirement homes, zoos, animal shelters, garden centres, loads of places.

Well done for trying to rehome them responsibly, not many people bother. BUT you will have to wait until the Spring. Moving them at this time of year is not a good idea. I'd say as soon as the temperature starts getting above 10c every day. Don't leave it too late or they'll spawn and you'll have even more fish, with a lot of them being too tiny to move.

Brilliant, thanks Eau that gives me a timetable as well! Will start pond spotting in my area ready to approach people!

Actually would say now is a better time to move them while they are less active in used to be a fish rescue site on Twitter and Facebook