pond on allotment?

[jackie j]

I am lucky enough to have a small stream at the back of my plot and I often see toads and or frogs by my plot.

[bluemoon]

Does it have a lot of not-froglets? And what sort of plant aren't there growing round it? I ask because when I moved here I found a couple of old sinks that I just knew I'd find a use for some day. So I thought I might make a couple of pondlets. But I'd need advice, so it would be helpful to know what other people are not-doing...

I've thought of hostas, which I don't like, but slugs do and a pondlet for frogs, which slugs don't like, but they like the slugs. Also I was considering rush - of the sort you can weave. Just a small patch grown between the 2 sinks. What do you think?

Because this non-existent pond is quite small, I've planted things around the edge that look like miniature trees and shrubs such as hebe and juniper, can't remember the names of other things as they tend to be stuff that I've picked up cheap when they were half-dead. They spread and give shelter to the froglets that don't live there. A few rocks piled at one end would allow things to climb in and out and some flat stones could make little 'caves' nearby. The area where the pond would be if I had one, is only small, so I'm limited to what might be planted, but a jam-jar of tadpoles the first year would have been enough to ensure a healthy frog population ever since. A lot depends upon what you have and where you can locate it, but it doesn't have to all be done at once, try different things and see what works for you.

[Mrs Dobby]

We were lucky enough to inherit a small(ish) pond on our forst plot 2 years ago, it was very overgrown, but that first year we counted 40+ frogs and toads around and in it during the mating season, quite a racket they made too!!



This year we've rebuilt the wall around it, pulled up the liner that had fallen down on one side, and have plans to create a small waterfall with a solar pump, with a wildlife area around it, including wildflowers and perhaps a small almond tree. We're hoping to start this once the whole plot is fully planted and the planned new bed is dug and planted!

[Dynamo]

I inherited a pond when I got my allotment a few weeks ago.



Just out of picture there's a log that resting on the side and laying in the water for any critters to find their way out. Unfortunatly, when I first went to the allotment and surveyed it, there was already a dead hedgehog floating in it. I think I'll find something better for animals to climb up soon.

I don't know what to grow around it yet but when I have time I'll sort something. In the meantime I figured on just letting the weeds there act as cover for any frogs that use it.

[basketcase]

Because this non-existent pond is quite small, I've planted things around the edge that look like miniature trees and shrubs such as hebe and juniper, can't remember the names of other things as they tend to be stuff that I've picked up cheap when they were half-dead. They spread and give shelter to the froglets that don't live there. A few rocks piled at one end would allow things to climb in and out and some flat stones could make little 'caves' nearby. The area where the pond would be if I had one, is only small, so I'm limited to what might be planted, but a jam-jar of tadpoles the first year would have been enough to ensure a healthy frog population ever since. A lot depends upon what you have and where you can locate it, but it doesn't have to all be done at once, try different things and see what works for you.

Sounds as if it would be very nice!