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Get digging your wildlife pond!
(But read this first!)
The advice given here assumes that you are going to have a wildlife
pond and use a flexible liner. I know very little about designing
ponds for koi fish, apart from the fact that they seem to require
constant attention, are costly and require an extensive filtration
system. Go to an aquatic centre and find out how much a koi carp will
cost you. Frogspawn, frogs, newts, pond skaters and dragonflies are
all free!
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Mark out the shape of your pond using a thick rope or
hosepipe for smooth curves. Don't make the shape too 'fussy'
as it will be difficult to make your liner fit neatly. To assist
with water clarity, make your pond as big as possible and avoid
a deeply shaded site.
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A shelf 9"-12" deep and 12" wide round part
of the inside of your pond will enable you to grow marginal
plants in baskets and will probably be used by frogs as
a suitable place to lay their frogspawn.
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Your wildlife pond needs gently sloping slides to enable animals
and birds to drink and bathe safely and to allow your frogs
and froglets an easy escape route from your pond. Stones projecting
above the surface give developing tadpoles an opportunity to
soak up the sun!
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Try to ensure a depth of about 18" to enable your frogs to
hibernate in the mud at the bottom and to allow you to plant 'deep
water aquatic' plants.
Check all round with a board and spirit level to ensure that the
surface of your pond is completely horizontal. Add or remove earth
as necessary. Remove all large stones and roots to avoid damaging
the liner.
Line the sides and base with a 1" thick layer of damp sand.
Wildlife pond building - This is page 4 of 8
Goto:- Pond building pages [1] [2]
[3] [5] [6]
Pond plants [7] [8]
Frogs, frogspawn & tadpoles - page [1]
[2]Main
Pond Page
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