Our neglected pond

[binley100]

We have a large pond very neglected in an area of our site which is just being opened back up . At the site meeting one plot holder asked about sorting it out into a wildlife area and offered to do work on it . Just arranged for a nice fella from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to meet us and give us some advice on what best to do with the area, where to site bat boxes and other such stuff. Happy happy .........

[Two_Sheds]

Lovely!

The frogs in ours are just starting to do their thing. You know, that "special cuddle" they do, kids.

[dogsbody]

My frogs appear to have done their stuff now - although one or two late-arrivals are still around.

[VirginVegGrower]

Bins are you putting any plants in it?

[mrbadexample]

I wish some frogs would do their special cuddle in my pond.

[VirginVegGrower]

I wish some frogs would do their special cuddle in my pond.

Maybe you need to put on some Barry White and drop the lights down LOW!

[Samurailord]

I am hopeful that the frogs that hibernated in my pond will soon be starting to come out - it has been far too cold for them until recently.

Now I have plugged the leak and started to refil it they should survive and stock my plot with lots of little slug killers

Andy

[binley100]

Bins are you putting any plants in it?

Not sure what if any are already there hence the fact finding mission on Friday ....only be native stuff if we do . Think basically we need to clean up the area first as its very overgrown.

[Verinda]

I have brand new tadpoles in my pond which is quite exciting!

[lolly2012]

Have first frogs

Hi I built a pond last year and am so excited, we have our first lot of frogs spawn I must have got something right . I am right in thinking frogs always return to where they were spawned each year, if so will never need slug pellets again

[Two_Sheds]

we need to clean up the area first as its very overgrown.

I'm cleaning out our pond now, not the ideal time as the frogs are spawning, but we haven't had rain for nearly 6 weeks and the pond is drying out (it's always been a bit leaky).

The spawn is now on land and drying out, so I had to take drastic action, pulling out the duckweed and dead leaves, and putting the spawn back in.

The reason for the leak is that our "designer" filled the pond with wild Norfolk reed: the kind that colonises miles & miles of the Broads. It's only an 8ft pond. The reed has roots like bamboo, as thick as your finger, and has punctured the butyl liner.
I also suspect the largest loss is because of transpiration ~ the pond is so thick with reed, moss, couch grass and horsetail that they're simply sucking up all the moisture.

So yesterday I starting removing the reed, very carefully, with a pruning saw. Hand in water, saw under the roots (not catching the liner, which I haven't even found yet). I did an hour yesterday, and filled 3 bendy buckets.

and hallelujah, today we have rain!