Wildlife Pond Advice

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longshot

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

200 months

Saturday 22nd September 2012
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After a few years of thinking about it, I've fitted a preformed pond in the garden with the intention of turning it into a wildlife pond.
It's about 1 metre x 1 metre in a sort of triangular shape and about 0.5 metres deep with steep sides and a couple of shelves, which may or may not be ideal.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone on here had one and if they could give me a step by step guide on how to proceed.
Which plants to use, and what they do, which creatures to put in it, like snails etc, not fish and what they do.
What if anything to put on the bottom, gravel etc.

I've had a look on the 'net and there's lots of information about how to make a pond but not how to proceed from there.

Thanks.

longshot

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

200 months

Saturday 22nd September 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I'm not a pond expert but I think something that small is unlikely to maintain a viable ecosystem, but just be a 'decorative feature'.
Yes, I know it's a little on the small side but it's as large as we can practically have.
Hopefully we will get some wildlife in it even if it's just a few birds having a bath.

Thanks for the info Mark. I'll have a look at the things you mentioned in a bit when I have a spare moment and look forward to any more info that you can share with me. ty.

longshot

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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I went to the local garden centre today and a lot of the pond plants they had were starting to die back.
I decided to buy a bunch of oxygenating plants and will now leave it until the spring, hopefully by then it will be 100% rainwater and ready to go.
I'll try to post a picture of it later so people can see what it looks like.

longshot

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Thanks turn7, japvee and all for the tips and advice. I now have lots of ideas come spring.

This is my puddle.




longshot

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

200 months

Friday 28th September 2012
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That's a terrific pond you have there nightmare.
I think it looks great just the way it is.
If mine looks half as good as yours when it's established I will be very pleased indeed.