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How to pond-dip your garden pond
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Thursday, 4 July 2019 at 10:22 am
Start pond dipping to find out what's living in your pond - all you need is a fishing net and some jam jars.
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Putting in a pond is one of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden. Get the angles and depth right, and you will attract a wealth of invertebrates, from caddisflies to damsel larvae.
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Find out how to attract wildlife to your garden pond.
Pond dipping is a great way to find out what's living in your pond. Arm yourself with a fishing net and a few jam jars, and release your inner child.
You Will Need
- Fishing net
- Jam jars
Step 1
Pond dipping - Setting aside the jam jar
Choose an edge of the pond where you can kneel or squat in comfort and safety. Part-fill your largest jam jar with pond water and put aside.
Step 2
Pond dipping - Checking in the jam jar for life
Gently sweep your net in an 'S' shape in the water. Check if you have any creatures in your net and transfer them to your jam jar as soon as possible.
Step 3
Different creatures live at varying depths, so adjust your net sweep. Separate some invertebrates, such as newts and tadpoles, so one doesn't become dinner for the other.
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Is your pond murky and full of algae? Discover three ways to improve your garden pond.
Return the creatures to your pond
Don't forget to return the creatures you have looked at to the pond as soon as possible.
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