A Wildlife Friendly Pond

Wanting to create your very own wildlife paradise?

Step 1: Plan your pond and get digging!

Before you dig, plan your pond - don’t be alarmed as it really doesn’t have to be big! Whatever suits your terrain and scale of garden, even small ponds can be wildlife havens. Once you have planned how large your pond will be, select a base aggregate, feature stones and pond liner. When you dig your pond, don’t go any deeper than 50cm deep.

Step 2.  Laying the liner.

Lay your liner over the hole. It may take time to get it right, but placing bricks around the brim will help with the process and hold the liner down. Try to create it as neat as possible as creases in the liner may trap animals such as newts.

Step 3. Pebble Time.

It’s time to put the pebbles in. Place your chosen materials at the bottom of the pond. Using pebbles is a great way to invite newts and other Amphibians’ as they love to hide and crawl into cracks within the stones.

We would recommend using a rounded aggregate like Seashore or Highland Pebbles but you can also use chippings like Gold Coast or slate such as Green Slate 40mm. Look out for our fish friendly icons to see if your chosen product is suitable.

Step 4. Adding Some Water.

Using a hose fill the pond ensuring that you leave 2cm from the surface. Once filled, use the rest of your bricks to outline the whole pond.

 

Step 5. Positioning the Rocks.

Now you can use landscaping rocks or the materials you have to help build the outside of the pond. This could be a gradual transfer from pebbles to cobbles and finally boulders, or a bold feature by replacing the place-holding bricks with statement rockery. You may have overhanging liner; using rockery stones on the edge of the pond will cover this.

 

Step 6. Finishing Time.

Now it’s time to decorate your pond, you can do this by adding plants or water features (remember if you wish to add fish or water features, filters are required.)