New wildlife pond, any tips?

[TimH]

You sure that's not one of those bath spa things..??

My i ask how much you paid, that looks just like what i need for a wildlife pond, could you get that into a Fiesta.??

It was £80, in most places I've seen it priced at £90-£120. it's a Mayfly 500. Wouldn't fit in a Fiesta, I've got a Megane and it wouldn't fit in there. Managed to get into a Kia 4x4.

[seasprout]

Cheers TimH, will dig a smaller hole.

[TimH]

Well the pond is in and I've filled it to bed it in,



Still needs a lot of work doing and clean water.
Just looking into edging the pond now, Then I will install a pump with a waterfall. The pile of mud at the back will be a rockery/base for waterfall.
Any pointers would be nice,

Cheers

Tim

[chrispy]

the pond looks cool tim, youv'e motivated me to put one in myself....

[bubblewrap]

Let the grass grow round the pond & if you can get a bucket or two of water from an established pond.
This will help the pond develop some natural weed growth & the frogs (& toads? ) will appear on their own.

[selfraising]

You could make a bog area around part of the pond, it doesn't have to be big. Just dig a trench line with old plastic bin bag or compost bag, pierce a few holes for drainage, top up with soil and your away! There are a large variety of bog plants or plants that thrive in moist soils. The frogs and newts seem to love this are around my pond even tho its only about 18 inches wide!

[TimH]

Pump is now installed to give the water some movement.

[MrsC]

Hi TimH, I dug a wildlife pond last year but I used a pond liner. I don't have a pump and it is a little green and murky but is clearing. I wouldn't worry too much about the water being really clear. Do as BW suggests and maybe edge with grass. I also used some stones over the edge and pea gravel in the moment. Lots of logs and grasses for the little creatures to hide. I dug my pond this time last year and it has lots of tadpoles and lots of other wildlife. Godd luck

[Victoria26]

I've bought a solar pump to move the water in my wildlife pond. Still not dug the pond in yet but the pump was on special. Also seen some solar airating stones for the pond too. Will see how the pump works out though!

[Beanie]

The wildlife will find it very soon!
I dug a pond on my allotment last year, I just added plants that people gave me such as Kingcups, mint, irises, a small water lilly - within about 6 weeks it had newts in it, then someone gave me frogspawn & the frogs have remained ever since. The Irises attracted Dragon flies & beautiful irridescent red Damsel Flies in their first year. Other things like Water Boatmen just seemed to turn up, too.
But, as mentioned above, do make 'exit ramps' out of the pond at intervals - not just for frogs but for hedgehogs & other small creatures that inadvertently fall in.

[di]

Just wanted to echo the peeps that have said leave it for nature to find.We made a new one last weekend,popped in some tadpoles.Then today noticed 3 newts!...not sure if that's a good thing for the tadpoles...but I'm sure there's more than enough for the newts to munch on & still have at least a few frogs develop.

[TimH]

and still the work goes on....



and still not done.

[TimH]

Nearly there.

[SueA]

That's coming along really well. Not sure which plants you've got but to attract wildlife I've got marsh marigold, purple loosestrife & ragged robin in mine along with flag iris & a water lily & oxygenators. The wildlife will find it, our pond is perhaps just slightly smaller than yours & in a raised bed with shrubs & rocks around it & we get frogs, dragonflies, toads etc.

[Headfry]

Hey thats looking really good! well done you, Mysotis (sorry if spelling is wrong) forget-me-not is another good one, I was told that newts like to laying eggs on the leaves.
thanks for the picture diary really enjoyed seeing your progress.