In times past an ornamental garden pond was a statement of wealth and prosperity – particularly in warmer climates where only the richest of people could treat water like art. But for most of us nowadays it’s an affordable addition to a garden that offers enormous benefits for the humans and creatures that share it.
Even the tiniest of ponds will encourage wildlife that other parts of the garden can’t support. The sight of a bird bathing in shallow water, a hedgehog drinking from the safety of a sloping edge or frogspawn appearing in the early spring are delightful reasons to pause and enjoy the successful installation of a watery habitat.
Sun and moonlight shining on the surface of a pond add depth to a garden – reflecting the shapes and movement of the clouds above and the plants around it. The pleasure we experience gazing at water may also link back to our ancestors for whom shiny reflections would have triggered positive emotions as they sought out this precious resource.
If that’s enough to persuade you to create a pond in your garden, here are my top tips …
- Position your pond where it will get some sunlight – light is necessary for aquatic plants to photosynthesise and oxygenate the water. This is important for aquatic wildlife that doesn’t come to the surface to breathe and it will also inhibit the growth of algae which thrives in the absence of oxygen.
- A bit of shade at some point in the day will help to limit evaporation but it’s good to avoid placing a pond under trees where fallen leaves will cause a build up of nutrients which also promotes the growth of algae
- Evergreen plants on the edges of a pond will encourage amphibians who need shelter from predators when they emerge from the water.
- A small ‘beach’ will allow mammals like hedgehogs to access the water safely.
- A range of depths in your pond will provide a habitat that supports the widest range of plants and creatures.
- A final layer of subsoil in your pond will disguise unslightly pond lining and create a richer habitat for creatures using the pond.
