Siting a pond on a sloping garden

Ah? Toads don't overwinter in my ponds, but frogs and newts do. What you've experienced with freezing bears out what I wrote. Between 12" and 24" would be safe enough. 24" would stay cooler in summer

 

I think Belgium must be more like the UK than Aquitaine, winter-wise! Our summers are hotter than the UK though....

We have a cellar, which now can only be accessed from enclosed outside steps. If we need to get (more) wine in during the winter, we have to be very, very careful on the steps, especially on the way back up. Not just because we are carrying wine , but because there are frogs, toads (different types) and newts nestled on each of the steps. I’m glad to say the snakes and slow-worms prefer the compost, although there are numerous frogs and toads there too...

 

Well blow that for a game of soldiers! The most slippery thing I have to contend with when re-stocking the liquid supplies is a muddy slope You're serious? Frogs and toads and newts live with snakes? For how long?

 

I think “live” is an interesting description....

For the cellar steps - there are the leggy amphibians, but no snakes .
The slow-worms live in the compost bays, normally near the base of the finished bay, so I often find them as I empty the bay for the garden. The frogs and toads tend to overwinter in “runs” nearer the top of the bays. I’m assuming that there are grass-snakes too, as I’ve found shed skins. They may not overlap in timings ?

 

Not for long Do you get mole crickets in the compost too?
Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à https://www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos144/big/dscf5641.jpg.jpg

 

No - never seen anything like that!

I was starting to doubt the overwintering in ponds v shelter, so I googled a little...
Frog House DIY Plans - The RSPB

Whilst doing this, I looked up the garden to the pond - where a pair of mallards were feeding ... There was then a stand-off with a heron , who was also thinking about dinner. He flew off in disgust, when he saw the ducks !!

When I put a mere 2x3 metre pond in, I never dreamed of such large feathered visitors.... I’m now keeping my eyes peeled for a kingfisher!!

 

This photo of a 5 week old pond popped up in my Facebook feed. So of course, I went out and took one for comparison.

I think it is safe to say that the pond is established!! (Water level is v low at the moment, but we have heavy rain forecast for the next 48 hours, so I will hold back on topping it up)

a very similar position for the photo, although taken in the afternoon, rather than the morning.

An example of the wildlife that we now have - this broad-backed chaser flew into the lounge this morning…