News / wildlife pond

The long summer holiday has arrived, and if you are looking for something that kids can do in the garden, that will keep them busy and away from their computers, then how about letting them create a small wildlife pond, that can attract frogs, toads, newts and birds to your garden. Preformed ponds are ideal for making a garden pond with minimum fuss. The kids just need to dig a hole big enough for the pond. Once this has been done, a preformed pond can be added. Laying some plastic sheeting then covering with the soil from the hole, can create a bog garden next to the pond. Once finished add, some native aquatic pond plants around the edges, and in the water. For example;

FLOATING - Water lily, common water-crowfoot, frogbit.

POND EDGES - Marsh marigold, globeflower, pillwort, brooklime, watermint, lesser spearwort, water forgot-me-not.

SUBMERGED - Water violet, rigid hornwort.

Gardenis.co.uk sell 3 sizes of preformed pond;

Small - 85 litres is about the size of a large Belfast sink (£30 inc UK delivery)

Medium - 200 litres is about the size of a small bath (£48 inc UK delivery)

Large - 420 litres, the surface area of an average fireside rug. (£78 inc UK delivery)

(Delivery is usually 1 to 2 days excluding weekends)

 

Once complete, children can monitor the pond over the next few years to see if it has any attracted any wildlife, such as frogs. Ponds are not suitable for gardens of homes with very young children, eg 3 and under. If one is installed in such a garden, it should be in area only accessible behind a fence, with a locked gate that only adults can open.