New pond - size and location help please

Yes he had it specially fabricated from steel with thick wire mesh, it has hinges for maintenance and locks to keep it secure, he removes it and paints it every few years, my link was only to illustrate a option without a fence,

I will get a few pictures next time i call round and post them up.

 

Sounds like a much better set up than mine was .... mine did look like a 'proper job' for a while, but hinges and locks sound great.

 

I hate the look of those grid covers! The plan is this fence will only be up 3 years or so, and the materials cost me £50 in total rather than possibly close to a grand for a fitted rigid one, plus I am keen to have the pond open for birds that might be drawn to insects, too. It's not bad as the mesh isn't very visible. Once the pond is full of plants it'll be better.

Thanks so much for such positive feedback and for plant suggestions. Reallt appreciate it.

Total cost to now has been about £600, and i suspect plants wil work out another £150.

What do people think avout tipping sand and pebbles in to create a sloped beach? Will it look naff?

 

Every person has their own taste, but my penny's worth is that I wouldn't do it. I feel it would be trying to create a mix of two different styles, when there would be more beauty in sticking to one that you have done so well. But.... that's just my personal viewpoint. You could try it out if you like the idea. Might be a bit of work to clear if out if you don't like it, but I can see you are not bothered by a bit of work. Would you intend your children to play in it? If not, then that might be a bit tough for them.... a beach and no sandcastles!!

 

Sorry i didn't mean a large beach as such, just a tiny thing to help frogs get in and out really, though I'm sure they'll have no trouble hopping over the rocks.

 

I have used big pebbles and small rocks for exactly that purpose by a 'wildlife pond' and it is a super idea in my book. It has enabled birds to get in for a wash, and is an easy way in and out for newts and frogs etc. The local pheasant population hides in here when the shooting starts, and they seem to like the ''beach'' bit. Moss has grown over in places too which has made it all look very natural.
I agree - it will all look very different when the plants are in there - and they will fill out in no time, you won`t need many
As an afterthought, I think I would leave the sand out though....

 

As another after thought.....it is now the plants that will give the project it`s crowning glory. Not only in the pond, but surrounding it too. In my book, that will be the best bit

 

This is not a criticism, but more of advice for those who are contemplating building a pond. I would always recommend starting with a concrete collar, it need be no more than six inches wide for small pools. In this way you can get it perfectly level.

Then dig it out, it makes for less mess and won't ruin your lawn so much.
Fit the liner and then use some coping material, this can be flat pieces of stone, rocks, or large pebbles. If you aren't going to walk on them, they don't have to be cemented down. Then if you develop a leak in the liner some time in the future, it's easy enough to remove the coping material and replace the liner.

It leaves you with a lot of options, I built this in 1985 as an eighteen inch deep goldfish pool.







Then a year later changed it to a five foot deep koi pool.

This is how it looked twenty years ago.
My avatar picture is how it looks now...well...last summer. Just the plants have grown or changed.

The point I'm trying to make is this sort of construction method is more durable.

 

Hi A, do you have frog spawn already/a old photo, i get some but ive not seen a frog since last year , i will have to put the cctc back on the pond see if i can see any at night.

 

Thank you A, i will have to see what happens here then,

If nothing happens i will have to go and collect some spawn, i know your not supposed to but the grandkids are looking forward to seeing the tadpoles.

 

Thanks A Thats what i was referring to.

You learn something new everyday i will tell the grandkids

 

The pond is doing great. The plants are still small and barely growing yet, but there are already dragonflies, pondskaters, beetles and lots of other stuff. It has also cleared up really well the past few days.

A neighbour gave us a jar of tadpoles and they've been in 3 weeks and growing well. Loads of midge larvae for them to chomp.

And no drowned kids yet! ☺