What to do with an old concrete pond?

Hi guys... newbie here, please no wedgies!

We've just moved into a new property with a good size plot. We've made some gravelled areas where it was overgrown, trimmed everything and made breathing space for new bulbs. However, one thing that we're stumped on is this old pond - It's a bout 6'6" by 3' or so and seems to be solid concrete. it's very sturdy as you can imagine but was totally grown over and stagnent.

We're not sure what to do with it, any ideas?

We have the pump etc to turn it back into a pond but have two young children and I'm not sure I have the time/effort to look after it and stop it going the same way as the last pond.

A local gardener suggested making it a semi-wet area by breaking some holes into the bottom and growing boggy plants. This way there will be no open water but still wet enough for the frogs etc to come back next year. I wouldn't know where to start with that though.

Thanks for your help in advance.
Rob

 

It looks a bit precast to me, like maybe its just sunk in the ground and originally had another use.

Not much help but I'm just curious

 

If you don't want to keep it as a pond, obvious danger to the children of course, why not scoop out all the water, fill with erecaceous compost and grow blueberries (they love their "feet" in water - if it is concrete (photo looks more like some sort of clay??) best line with some old plastic to stop the lime element leaching into the compost.

 

I agree Pete, I'm not sure what other use a solid, un-drained halfpipe could be for? Unless they have a big hedgehos skateboarding scene over here

I think I might need to Google "erecaceous compost"
Blueberries sounds lovely though.

Are there any other plants that would enjoy a wet bed? With there being a path by it now it might be nice to have something nice smelling

Cheers or your help so far! (and the quick replies)
Rob

 

Are you sure it is/was a pond Is that where you got the pump from ?

Who would create an oblong and deep pond, It looks more like a drain sump/soak away
With those vertical sides no wildlife could hop in and out ?
Otherwise a fish tank, but not sure at all

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Yep -it was definitely a pond upto a few days ago. Pump / Filter / Lily pads / frogs / newts etc etc - It was full to the brim with reeds and tight weed so the animals could just walk out.

I agree it doesn't look like it was a pond originally though!

 

As has been said, that was something else that was used as a pond. (animal watering trough? or below ground pit, it looks like a "lid" rested on the "ridge / shelf" around the top.)
The pump that is in the top picture is far too small to be of any real use if its to stay as a pond.
To be honest, as you have small children unless you can get a solid stable grille (you could then make a water feature) I would either break it up, or dig it out and put it on ebay / freecycle.

 

I wouldn't fancy having to dig that out!

It is possible to put a secure mesh cover on it, we have one on our school pond. I think it is set on a wooden frame which goes around the top of the pond and is kept padlocked shut.

It seems a shame to break holes in it if it is still in a good, watertight condition. I think I'd go for the filling in and planting option, until the children are old enough to cope sensibly with ponds.

Maybe a gunnera would enjoy sitting with its feet permanently in water? Pobably any pond plant would cope with being in permanently saturated soil but there would be no open water visible to form a hazard.

 

I must say that it doesn't convey much the idea of a pond mostly because of the shape.

 

I rather like formal, geometric ponds. The "organic" shaped ones can often run a little bit wild. I have rectangular ponds and the structure helps to contain the wildness. I made a slope at one end of each pond and the wildlife seems to cope fine with that.

 

Could always fill it with sand and call it a sand pit, then turn it into a pond when the small ones are older, but it would still need a lid.

 

Brilliant idea! A lid would be easier to make than a padlocked grille. You could use an old door, at least until you got round to making a better one.