Natural pond

Can anyone help me with advice regarding creating a natural pond please? I would like to do this, but don't really have much idea of how to. Read lots on the web but thought someone here could probably help better. Thanks

 

Much bigger than a puddle, I hope. Approx 12ft x 12ft and I want it to encourage lots of wildlife.

I have a south facing garden but the area I want the pond in is shaded some of the day by two evergreen cypress trees in my neighbour's garden.

 

Thanks for that Loofah. I'm not going to put fish in it, I've got a formal pond with Koi but just want something to attract frogs, dragonflies, maybe newts if I'm lucky. You're right about sketching first methinks - I'm off to find paper and pencil.

 

Hiya I've just built a little wildlife pond. I'm no expert but if u need any help I might be able to help a little. My thread is here http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=17520&page=2

 

Wow -just been looking at your thread. You've done really well there. At the moment the idea is just in my head. We've taken on an enormous garden and have still got a fair bit to do before I get down to this wildlife pond but then I do tend to flit between jobs so who knows. The area where I want the pond used to be a vegetable area some years ago but the previous people to us didn't use it at all except to have bonfires on. What I want to do is have this wildlife pond and then have a wildflower garden around it (hence all the poppies lol) - that would take up the whole of one half of this vegetable plot and the other half I will grow some fruit on. This is the idea anyway. So any info or where to look, what not to do, etc. wouold be very much appreciated.b-0

 

Thanks it was hard work but worth it I hope.
I watched Geoff Hamilton build a wildlife pond on the tv the other day (repeat gardeners world) and it looked a really good one. He dug it out with the shelves for some plants and the sloped beach for the wildlife to get in and out. Lined it with sand and a liner then filled the bottom and the sides with soil then when the water was put in he just planted the plants in the soil.

My tips are:
1) Buy the best liner u can afford - I got an epalyn one as its basically the same as the butyl one but cheaper
2) Clear any stones out of the surounding soil. I spent ages doing this also I left it a few days in the rain to settle and then picked out more stones that appeared
3) Lay a thick layer of sand on top of the soil - they do special pond sand which doesn't have stones in
4) Put a fleece liner down before the waterproof liner to stop stones and roots getting through to the liner

I can't think of any more lol HTH

 

I might have some wildlife seeds left over after I've planted my pond up in spring. I'll put the up on the seed swap

 

Thanks for the tips - I will be back to you for more info I expect Any wildflower seeds would be most welcome - I'll keep my eye on the list. :thumb:

 

Keeping my eye on this thread-currently doing the exact same thing, quick question-is creeping jenny a problem to plant around the perimeter of teh pond-I had thought it would provide much needed hiding places for the little critters I am expecting

 

Claire how about some pictures please and then I can pinch more ideas :wink:

All I know about creeping jenny is that it doesn't merely creep - it gallops!

 

take time to ensure that as best as possible the liner is not visible at the edges, also make a shallow end so wildlife can drink.

I like to form a boogy end deliberately sloping the liner so as to allow for marginals to be planted. In order to hide te liner I tend to lap turves slightly into the water along with utilisng flat stones.

 

Hi Kate,

I will do so tomorrow, but I am hardly at the stage where I can give any inspiration I`m afraid, yet.

 

I presume a disco ball and an Ipod set up would complete the scene Paul?:lollol: