Wildlife Pond

I was wondering what I would need for a wildlife pond to attract frogs in my garden and what's the smallest it could be? Any help much appreciated

 

a large "puddle" will do.

I kid you not, i have two small "wildlife ponds" each can only be no more than 1m square and about 15cm deep, They did start as puddles

 

As above, although to get frogspawn ideally go for something larger if space allows.

 

got frogspawn in my bigger puddle earlier this year, i transfered it to the smaller puddle, only now (after adding iodine) have i got froglets

 

The first wildlife pond I had was a 15" section of a 45gallon drum sunk level with the ground it was very productive as far as frogs were concerned,even now I use all sorts of containers for distributing spawn and rearing tadpoles as some of the frogs insist on spawning in the koi pond,almost all the tadpoles this year are froglets and are free range the newts are also moving out at this time onto land.

 

Never had any newts :(

still, you know what they say, no newts is good newts

 

I would say the bigger the better - I wish we'd made ours bigger from the start (it is maybe 3' x 4'ish). All reference recommends digging at least 60cm deep - ours is deeper, this allows things to survive winter freezings.

A must for wildlife is that the sides are get-out-able. None of ours are too steep for things to clamber out onto - but we have one specific beach area which is very gently sloping, allowing the tiniest of froglet to escape. Good ground cover is useful too - so that wildlife has somewhere to hide when leaving/entering the pond. Different levels of 'shelf' are handy for putting vegetation which likes different levels.

Good luck, and show us some pics once it's done!

 

I had heard of using garden canes as "houses for small bugs etc" i never really thought much of it untill this week end i saw a small flying bug (no idea what it was) going into the end of a garden cane that was horizontal (a cross piece for my sunflower supports)

So i am going to get some more canes, cut them down to about 1 foot lengths, make a ""bundle" (if you get what i mean) and put it near my tiny puddle.

Ok, the bugs wont like their neighbours, but the frogs will.

 

Hi WG,

thats a bug palace you are thinking off, my kids have made them as a project for school. Ladybirds can hibernate in them aswell as lacewing, and it keeps the devil away from their hands during the summer holidays.

There are other ways to as well, roll up corrugated cardboard and fix an laccy band over it-, although that plan doesnt say what happens if it rains and goes soggy.


I don`t have a pond and really want one but Mr Pops wont do it!!

 

I haven't told Mr Road Rage yet lol. I might just put it in then tell him

 

Just seen this thread and thought I'd tell you about mine.
Made about 4 years ago from small kids blow up paddling pool (very cheap from toy shop) lined with builders black plastic. Within half an hour of filling it from hose pipe I had 2 ducks land on it.
Over time I have built the edges up with weeds and soil out of garden and it is now looking so natural and has all sorts living in it.
I thought it had been destroyed this year when neighbours hens had a drink from it and the sides collapsed but I straightened it up and the rain soon made it as good as new.
Will try and send pic at some point

 

Believe it or not ducks are the worst thing for a domestic wild lfe pond. They "dump" every where and with their feet going at ten to the dozen they can soon stir up a shallow pond.

Been to a nice garden centre earlier this year, they sell duck food so you can feed the ducks, (they will take it out of your hand, and if they know you have duck food they follow you till you do give it to them) But we went to the small lake so we could see / feed all the ducks, and the grass bank on the "land side" is just like a mine field, only no mines, but sh*t loads of "dumps"

It was worth going to feed the ducks, but i would never recomend keeping them