Ponds

Hi all

I really would like a pond in my garden.  I am looking to have a relatively small pond, enough for pond life to survive and a few goldfish but would like it to be inexpensive, has anyone ideas of how I can do this for a relatively small amount of money.  I have a     south south east facing garden, with clay soil

Hello,

A small pond was added to my garden last year with the idea that I had a few goldfish and wildlife. It just didn't work for me, all my fish died probably because of the lack of a pump or oxgenting plants.

Since then I've just the pond do it's own thing, Apart from cleaning out the leaves/netting it ( wrong position under two trees) I've got a few grasses around the edges, it does have different heights so things can get out of it  and a few days ago I saw a frog/or toad in it. Made my day

The pond itself was cheap in materials, used some stones to edge it, some pond liner and a couple of grasses. I'm no expert  but I would advise choose the spot carefully. I did do a little research and found that a wildlife pond & goldfish don't often go together. Thats certainly been my experience.

Oh I forgot about the digging!

I developed a pond about a year ago. It was with the intention of being a wildlife pond only. Within a year I've had frogs and toads in the pond along with many invertebrates such as pond skaters and water boatmen. I also had a dragonfly visit recently. The soil type can be immaterial as you can line throughout and place different soil on top, even creating a part bog garden as I have with pitcher plants being evident. My pond is nearly fully south facing but has some shade at certain times in the day.

I would recommend you go ahead as it will enrich your garden no end.

How much is a small amount of money ? 50, 200, 1000

A few things to bear in mind when locating your pond.

NEVER locate it under trees, total shade or total sun ;-

• Under trees - falling leaves
• Total shade - plants can't photosynthesis
• Total sun - problems with green water

Lets face it, building ponds is expense, I know because I've spent thousands of pounds building them. If your into recycling, I have made a pond at my allotment from an old bath, dig a hole, drop it in, put the plug in lol and plant around the sides.

If a bath is not to your liking, do what my neighbour done. Lined it with black pond lining probably bought from argos to disguise the fact it's a bath - it works !! I've checked on the Argos site and there is 2 sizes to choose from.

If your thinking about keeping fish, a pond this size would house 2 pond fish nicely - do keep in mind that pond fish and aquatic plants grow bigger then indoors. Oh, and remember to put in steps, should any wildlife wish to visit your pond they'll be able to climb out, you'll be surprised how many people overlook this very important detail.

You can make a small pond out of anything watertight.  A friend of mine used one of those kiddies shell-shaped sand-pits and it worked well.  If it's for wildlife, leave out the fish as you'll need a pump, which will hoick the price up, and generally fancy fish and wildlife don't mix.  Ideally it should be a metre deep at it's deepest to prevent it freezing totally, otherwise you'll be out with pans of hot water thawing the ice!  One side at least should be gradually sloping as hedgehogs and baby birds like to make a habit of falling in and need some way of getting out again.  You can do this by adding stones if you have a high, smooth sided pond (like a bath-tub) but the easiest method is to dig out the shape you want and use pond liner.  Alternatively you can have an above ground pond (better if you have children and/or pets) made out of something like a half-barrel.  Again, make sure that you include a way for wildlife to get in and out

Following Botticelliwoman suggestion, I thought I'd take a pic of the pond I'm creating in my yard - wildlife only. Exposed to full sun from 1-5pm approx a day in summer, non in winter.

 Looks a bit messy at mo, but what the photo doesn't show is all the plants ready to go in those pots on the left handside, which will hide the edges making the pool look more natural. They are 2 trays inside one another for strength, as the pool had to be lifted off the ground.

THANKS ALL

Looking good Marshmello!  It really doesn't matter what form you have water in the garden, as long as you have it! It is probably the single most important thing for wildlife

Very true Botticelliwoman, and thanks.

Tim Burr wrote (see)

...within a very short space of time, it was looking very established, and filling up with wildlife. Heaven knows where it comes from because I am in the middle of a modern housing development, surrounded on all sides by houses and by gardens covered in grass.

Its remarkable to think that concrete spaces would grow over in just ten years whilst 100 yrs would see a wood! Nature is supreme.

There are self contained free standing ponds that are simplest.  No digging, just place on your patio, plant up, and fill with water.  An example is LifePond from expert Dr Neville Carrington.  It's designed to provide a viable habitat in the smallest space.  It's free standing http://www.carrington-ecoproducts.co.uk/   www.carrington-ecoproducts.co.uk is where to go  I checked the site and it's about £80 delivered to your door and you can position it and fill it with water and marsh plants straight away.    @Tim Burr It is amazing how the wildlife find your pond isn't it?!

Try a freestanding wildlife pond.  No digging, just position on your patio, plant some marsh plants and fill with water. The wildlife will soon come. Google 'small raised wildlife pond' and you'll find what you need.  Enjoy it!

Thanks all.  I've checked them out, it doesn't seem to say how big they are, 

@mdw84  If you google 'small raised wildlife pond' you'll find a free standing pond - no digging, and the wildlife is easier to watch - that's Width:  76cm, Length:  96cm.
Height:  20cm , Water Volume:  38 litres, with a Marsh Area:  730 sq. cm.