Converting a pond to a conversation pit ideas?

[robwilk]

Hi PHs
We have a deep pond about 2m at its deepest with a step, to approx 1.2m deep with a diameter of 4m and we have decided to get rid of the fish (gone) and the rest of the pond paraphernalia. My wife has been reading about 'conversation pits', which would make better use of the huge hole we have in our garden
On George Clarke's programme last night (s4 ep6) a girl did a similar thing and I thought it would answer my question but it did not, it appears they just filled the bottom of their pool hole with two feet of pebbles.
I'm in a pickle on how to provide drainage from rainwater gathering in the pit.
The bottom of the pond is below the level of the drains of the house so a straight forward drain is out. My thoughts are sinking a tall bucket in concrete in the deep section so the rain will collect in the bucket and have a submersible pump with a float switch to pump out the water when the bucket starts to fill.
Do you think I would need a back up pump? would this mean a bigger bucket.
I did think at first just to put two pumps in the pit but my wife was concerned that the amount of water permanently in the bottom of the pond would smell whilst the volume held in a bucket would be very small.
I open this up to ideas, comments and advice.
Rob

[kryten22uk]

I fail to understand the rain water problem. Is your pond hole concreted, or isn't it just earth covered with pond liner. Once you remove the pond liner, then why wouldn't water just soak into the ground like everywhere else in your garden?

[ILoveMondeo]

digging a soak-away should do the trick.

[robwilk]

kryten22uk said:

I fail to understand the rain water problem. Is your pond hole concreted, or isn't it just earth covered with pond liner. Once you remove the pond liner, then why wouldn't water just soak into the ground like everywhere else in your garden?

Its a concrete lined hole.

[robwilk]

ILoveMondeo said:

digging a soak-away should do the trick.

Its 2 meters deep im guessing that to get a soak away deeper than that it would be below the water table.

[Trabi601]

Why would you want to sit in a hole in your garden?

I'd just fill it in.

[Bill]

A conversation pit? Is that so your guests can't escape while you regale them with tales from your latest train spotting expedition to Crewe?

[otolith]

A "conversation pit" is an enclosed circular area with seating round the edges? When we moved into this house, we had the idea of doing something similar, but with raised sides rather than sunken and a fire pit in the middle. Never got round to it, but the idea of a private, sheltered area where you can sit, out of the wind, still appeals.

[Equus]

Bill said:

A conversation pit? Is that so your guests can't escape while you regale them with tales from your latest train spotting expedition to Crewe?

Nonononono.

Don't be silly: it's like a bear pit, but with bores instead of bears.

You put two bores down there, then take bets on which one will talk the other to death.

[Bill]

A bore pit, perhaps?

[Equus]

Quite so.

Only don't use pitbulls as one half of the bet: they tend to make terrible conversationalists.

Though on the other hand....

[robwilk]

Something along these lines.

[dickymint]

Here's mine and yes it does need a good clean

[cranford10]

You - "See that hole there ?"

Me - "yeah"

You - "used to be pond that did"

Me - "Ah , I see"


Done

[227bhp]

dickymint said:

Here's mine and yes it does need a good clean

I think you were sitting a little too close there.

[Condi]

227bhp said:

I think you were sitting a little too close there.

It was intentional, they're reenacting the burning of a witch.

[FarmyardPants]

What if you build it and get people sitting there and then nobody says anything? Nightmare.

Re drainage, use a big sds drill to make a hole in the concrete.

Edited by FarmyardPants on Saturday 28th May 19:19

[Roscco]

cranford10 said:

You - "See that hole there ?"

Me - "yeah"

You - "used to be pond that did"

Me - "Ah , I see"


Done

Thanks for that, I just laughed and spat beer on my phone

[grumbledoak]

robwilk said:

Something along these lines.

You should definitely do this. Complete with that parasol and loungers. And post photos. In September.

[V8RX7]

Somewhere generally dry (ie Not the UK) it might make sense- whenever I look for a place to sit - I don't pick a cold damp hole.

Edited by V8RX7 on Saturday 28th May 21:04