If you would like to encourage plenty of wildlife into your garden, one vital element is the presence of water. Frogs, newts, damselflies, water beetles, pondskaters, birds and many others will turn up of their own accord without a formal invitation. Small ponds make a great day or weekend project and one to get the kids involved in. As well as plenty of fun, it will help them to connect with the nature in their own back yard.
Of course water, however small or shallow is always a safety factor, particularly with young children, so think about how you can make it 100 per cent safe. Full covers really defeat the object, but metal grid covers can work well. Perhaps you could site the pond in a corner of the garden that can be fenced off easily with a picket-style fence so that animals can get through. Although the bigger the better, small is fine — ponds do not have to be particularly ambitious.
You may have a view on the aesthetics, so feel free to make it as fancy as you want but, frankly, wildlife couldn’t give a damn what it looks like.
Siting
Make sure that the pond will have plenty of planting around it, which will act as wildlife corridors, rather than sitting in the middle of a barren, sterile paved area or lawn. The pond should sit at ground level rather than being raised above ground as this makes it almost impossible for insects, amphibians and the like to get in and out. Ponds like a little shade to reduce the amount of sunlight on the water surface, which can lead to algae problems. But do not site your pond under deciduous trees as the leaves that fall into it in the autumn will decay, reduce its quality and ultimately make it smelly and uninhabitable for any creatures. Small ponds can easily be netted over in autumn and pond plants and peripheral plants can be added to give some shade to the water.
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Depth
The ideal depth for a wildlife pond is at least 45cm (18in) deep — remember that this is not a fishpond; they have different criteria. You can, however, make wildlife ponds and puddles far shallower if you wish and, although it will limit what turns up, some water is certainly better than none.
Lining and edges
Think what you’re going to make your pond from and what shape it may be. You can buy pond liners of varying cost and quality in rolls to drop into a pre-dug shape, or buy prefabricated shapes in fibreglass with built-in shelves for planting. Admittedly, this can all get a bit fancy, so why not recycle an old cold water storage tank, beer barrel or even a deep washing-up bowl or two for a quick fix?
Ponds can be made from anything that will hold water that can be dropped into a hole in the ground. A shallow beach on at least one side is better than steep sides for access. If you have a tank or pond with vertical sides, build a ramp inside by placing some stones or small boulders to come up and over the edge. All the edges can be covered by placing large loose stones on the top. Think nooks and crannies wherever possible, to create hideaways for your new guests.
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Planting
Plant a mixture of oxygenating, floating, and marginal plants to attract a variety of wildlife and to keep your water clean and in balance. Native pond plants include marsh marigold, yellow flag, hornwort, water violet and frogbit. Cover about 50 per cent of the water’s surface with plants to shade the water and to create cover.
Pond do’s and don’ts
Do
Be patient. The water will always “green up” in spring, but if the pond is well planted, it will clear later in the year. It can take a year or more for water and plants to reach a proper balance.
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Try to use rainwater to fill the pond. If you use tap water, leave it for a week before planting so that the chlorine can evaporate. Top up in summer if the water level drops.
Try to get a bucket of good pond water from a friend as it will be full of micro-organisms to speed up the pond’s development.
Keep an eye on blanket weed and clear it by hand. Leave it on the side of the pond for a while so that any wildlife can find its way back in.
Leave rough patches around the edge as a wildlife sanctuary.
Don’t
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Use chemicals in the pond. It may upset the balance and will harm wildlife.
Introduce wildlife yourself; they should come naturally. If they don’t, make sure that any frogspawn or frogs you introduce come from a healthy source as they can carry disease.
Introduce fish, especially goldfish, as they will eat a lot of the native invertebrates and tadpoles. If you want fish, create a separate pond.