Tread Lightly: How to create a successful garden pond

Whether you are going full scale and digging a large hole which is then fully lined and incorporates a sloping beach, or making use of an old washing up bowl the basics are the same:

Make sure it is accessible – if the pond is sunken then have an old brick, stick and pile of pebbles as escape routes. If it’s raised up then make sure you provide a ramp.

Use rainwater if possible – tap water contains chemicals which makes it unsuitable. Hopefully, you have full water butts, but if not, there are products you can get to purify the tap water.

Do not have fish – obviously not if you are using a washing up bowl. But in general fish and amphibians do not mix well; fish will eat frogspawn and amorous amphibian males can grab hold of fish and even drown them.

Do have pond plants – the number of plants you have obviously depends on the size of your pond, so don’t go crazy. There are a variety of native species which include:

• Around the edges: Lesser spearwort, marsh marigold and water forget-me-not
• Floating plants (really only suitable for larger ponds): water lilies and frogbit
• Submerged plants: Pondweed (helps to keep the water clear), hornwort, water starwort, willow moss and water crowfoot

Do not have your pond under trees/bushes: This is the rookie error I initially made, as I had a convenient corner, but the leaves from a hedge would drop into it.

Do think about light levels - Your pond needs sunlight, but not to be bathed in constant sunshine all day.

Do keep an eye on your pond – it is relaxing to just sit and observe what has made itself at home. You are likely to see what looks like green slime called blanket weed which can just be removed by twirling it round a stick. When you clear anything like this, leave it beside the pond for a couple of days to let any creatures make their way back in. The most unusual thing I’ve retrieved from my pond is a Domino Pizza cap after this year’s storms!

It might be tempting to try and bring wildlife or even buckets of water from established ponds, but please don’t as it can spread disease. Froglife are currently campaigning against frogspawn being bought online – I know, who knew that was a thing. I promise if you have provided the water habitat then the right creatures will find it.

The inhabitants will depend on the size of the pond. Frogs need a minimum of around two metres by two metres with a depth of at least 60cms to provide a suitable breeding area. Toads tend to like larger ponds, but I had two living on my allotment quite happily and you may find newts making themselves at home around your old washing up bowl or butlers sink etc.

One of my favourite wildlife spots were the dragonflies which appeared after I had put in my small wildlife pond. You are also likely to see damsel flies, water boatmen, water beetles and pond skaters.

Birds and hedgehogs will benefit from the water source, but it is important to provide escape routes in case a hedgehog fall in.

You can find step-by-step guides on how to build a variety of wildlife ponds on the The Wildlife Trusts, Froglife and the RSPB websites.

I hope this inspires you to create this wonderful habitat which has the added bonus of attracting some natural pest controllers to help protect your vegetables, fruit and flowers.

If you do make one then please post on social media and tag in the Cambridge Independent.

Allie Birley is a freelance communications specialist offering comms and business support to small businesses, artisans, sustainability and wildlife projects, specialising in social media, website content and campaigns.

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