Pond on lottie. Advice please

[bobbin]

Hi all.
I have a Belfast sink on a second less productive plot of mine. It's surprisingly successful in housing frogspawn and frogs. I keep the plot going as it's one no one wants as it's an awkward shape and prone to winter waterlogging. So I keep it weed free and tidy with two apple trees I put on it 3 yrs ago.
I'm thinking of having a wildlife pond of manageable size as I'd like more frogs and dragon flies etc. Does anyone here have a pond on their allotment. If so have you any advice? I don't need to seek permission fortunately. I'm not talking posh pond. So advice can be as Heath Robinson as you like.
I'm so excited about this I fear I need medication!

[bikermike]

We have a pond in our garden, and we love it. It's been fenced off for the last three years as we have a small person. I think we'll take the fence down when he is 5 ish. I would check rules/guidance on the plot.

Do you have a supply of water? (don't forget waterlogged ground won't drain into it as you'll need a waterproof layer to stop water draining out?)
Other than a sunk tub, the two usual options are a pre-formed pond made out of plastic, or a soft liner (we have the latter). You can also use concrete, or even puddled-clay if you want the full 19th-century experience).

When it comes to liner, I'd prioritise quality over price - you don't want to have to dig it out in a few years. OTOH, you may find an unused pond on ebay

You will also need to make sure it's big enough to have enough oxygenating plants in it to make it suitable for animals. (I assume you won't be going for a powered pump and filter set-up). You'll need to put some plants in.

Some shade and cover are a good idea too, and if the pond has steep sides, ways for animals to clamber in and out.

They aren't maintenance-free, but they don't take that much work, and it's great to spend time with a gin and tonic in hand just watching the fish/frogs/newts/damselflies (we think we have a resident dragonfly, but not sure) mooching about

[bario1]

I've got a small pond on my plot that I put in this Spring. It's a rigid preformed liner that someone advertised for free on Freegle. I'm hoping some frogs and the like will make a home in it next year, this year i just wanted it to settle and naturalise a bit, it's got a lily, some hornwort etc and a good population of snails. I've also built a hibernaculum to one side of it, and on the other side I'm making a bog garden.
I was always fascinated by ponds as a kid, so I'm looking forward to seeing it (hopefully) thrive next year.

[4Shoes]

All best with pond.

I've been thinking what to do with the run off from my barn and a pond cane to mind.

I was thinking of the pond liner method. Not sure what is under the soil so may be challenge getting depth for pond liner .

Keep us updated

[bobbin]

Thanks all for your advice. I'm really keen to get busy with it.i particularly like the G&T idea!
The pre formed liner sounds an easier option. I also heard some bod on the radio saying you should have
two thirds of you pond contain oxygenating plants. ( no fish obviously) Though the G&T wasn't mentioned.
Can't wait!

[nickdub]

How about trying free-cycle, see if you can score an old bath ?

[Chestnut]

I inherited a concrete pond with my allotment. Please do not follow my predecessors example!
It is a cube shaped hole, built from 6 inch thick poured concrete, so no shallow areas and no way for creatures to get out if they fall in.

We keep it covered with some firm wire mesh for safety reasons, and are trying to pluck up the courage to dig it out , or find another use for it (maybe one of those sunken greenhouses??)

Plastic liners, with shallow areas and oxygenating plants, dragonfiles and G+T (will you have room for a bench?) sounds much more appealing

[Snadger]

I built a very usable pond into one of my previous plots simply by burying a pink bath!


Once I put the plug in I ramped the opposite end with soil and even contoured it to give differing levels. As it was pink I covered the whole interior with weed suppressing membrane and planted some water hyacinths I got of a mate who was cleaning his pond out.

Naturally I disguised around the edge with rocks and driftwood and must admit it looked nothing like a buried bath.

The frogs and newts came of there own accord and I even had dragonflies buzzing around it. The blackbirds used to drink out of it and even built there nest in my shed which was adjacent to it.


I can definitely recommend a pond on the plot and the frogs and newts even helped to keep the slug population down.

[veggiechicken]

^^^^

[Baldy]

I put a pond in the back garden and with the left over liner put one in at the plot - I'd already had frogs take over a couple of £2 bowls I'd half buried up there. This was second summer for the pomd at the plot - it had frogs and 3 newts - they were my newts...
Cough

Anyhow - I think there is also a fish in there - either dropped in by a(n) heron who'd got things round the wrong way or perhaps it came in on the roots of pond-plants I'd been gifted. I'm building a log pile with hidy-holes next to the pond for some overwintering accomodation opportunities.
Its about 3 foot deep in the middle - not much more in circumferance but shouldn't freeze over...
Summat to look at / do over winter...

[Mr Bones]

I have a pond on the lotty made with a sheet of pond liner (you also need a protective under-liner). It's about two foot deep and 6ft long by 3ft wide with a log and brick frogitat to the side. Plenty of oxygenating plants, pond snails and shallow areas and ramps to avoid drowning wild life which it does attract. No newts sadly but the frogs soon found it.

[Doncasterpaul]

i have a natural pond on mine, its great in spring watching the newts frogs etc. however it dries up in hot summers. but i dig out all the silt, dead leaves etc and put it on the garden. so i suppose its a win win

[Nicos]

My only concern would be making sure that little'uns from different plots ( unsupervised) might have access to it?
Is the plot fenced off?
If not I would urge you to make it inaccessible to the little people. You'd never forgive yourself if one of them wandered off and ended up in it upsidedown

We used to have a corner bath on our first plot.
Burried up to the rim and the plug hole sealed with silicone.
We left the overflow open with a bit of cloth shoved in to stop soil washing into the pond .

Several big branches for frogs to climb out and a shallow bit and a ramp for hedgehogs to be able to climb out.
Surrounded by large stones and a woodpile and plants we found many toads taking up residence
Newts too!

I think it's a wonderful idea ...just make sure it's safe for kiddies and wildlife

Enjoy!!!!!

[Snoop Puss]

I inherited a concrete pond with my allotment. Please do not follow my predecessors example!
It is a cube shaped hole, built from 6 inch thick poured concrete, so no shallow areas and no way for creatures to get out if they fall in.

We keep it covered with some firm wire mesh for safety reasons, and are trying to pluck up the courage to dig it out , or find another use for it (maybe one of those sunken greenhouses??)

Plastic liners, with shallow areas and oxygenating plants, dragonfiles and G+T (will you have room for a bench?) sounds much more appealing

Chestnut, could you fill the bottom with large pebbles or, better still, make some sort of cage out of chicken wire with one sloping side and bung that in your pond? The sloping side would provide purchase and a slope for creatures to climb out.

[SarrissUK]

Dragon and damselflies like long leaves that hang over the water for them to breed, that's worth keeping in mind.. so all irises are good for example.
I have floating salvinia natans in my pond and it's been very successful, and prettier than duckweed - happy to send some out if you message me for address and send me a stamped padded envelope