Quince Tree Pond

[Bob_at_Fant]

Here's another small pond, a bit of a basket case really, it's a rigid pre-formed job which I imagine was intended as a small ornamental fish pond. It's deep in comparison to its area and steep sided except for a shallower semi circular area.





Overall it's about a tenth of a square metre, 270mm deep with 100mm of sludge at the bottom. On three sides it abuts an overgrown flowerbed and a gravel area on the other side. Despite being near a Quince tree it gets direct sunlight all day. Large rocks have been arranged around the edge, I presume to stop gravel and earth falling in but I'll remove these when I get time. I suspect that this pond has a leak and that the cause is a large plug in the side of the pond at one end which I shall take out and try to reseal. It has lots of the dreaded Duckweed which requires constant removal.

On the upside in the spring and summer this pond housed a pair of newts and possibly a couple of frogs and, along with Tin Bathtub Pond, was one of only two to have frogspawn which duly became gazillions of tadpoles but which, over a very short space of time, all disappeared long before they might have been expected to metamorphose

Sorry the photos are so poor but the other thing I like that may not be clear is that the small semi-circular 'stepped' area is sometimes submerged and sometimes exposed when it becomes a little boggy area.

It has (possibly) Hard Rush, Marsh Marigolds and another varigated grassy thing. My first attempt at plant identification

Bob

[King Edward]

The rush looks more like Soft Rush (Juncus effusus), with softer, lighter green stems - Hard Rush has very stiff, wiry, blue-green stems. The variegated plant is possibly Gardener's Garters (Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta').

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Bob_at_Fant

It has (possibly) Hard Rush, Marsh Marigolds and another varigated grassy thing. My first attempt at plant identification
Bob

Bob, additional to what K.E. has said, one fairly reliable way to tell between Soft and Hard Rush it to roll a stem between lips and tongue. If smooth it's Soft R., if 'ribbed' it's Hard R.
Dorts.

[Billabong Karen]

I dont think I'd remove the large rocks Bob, as they are probably providing hiding spots for newts etc. The pond looks ok, I think I would be inclined to keep it fairly topped up with rainwater, if you have access to a water butt. Perhaps you will need to reduce the size of the plants somewhat.

A thought - you say all your tadpoles disappeared; some were doubtless predated by the newts, but perhaps you have a grass snake! That would be a real result...

[Bob_at_Fant]

The rocks could stay, I was thinking they might form a barrier for returning frogs but obviously they made it ok last year. I have three large water butts connected together so should be ok for water but will need to sort out the leak first which I'd like to get done before we get too much freezing weather . It's a pity about the tadpoles but I shall be optimistic and keep a closer watch this year. I did think when I moved in that the garden looked ideal for grass snakes and it would be nice if there were any and even nicer if I got to see one

Bob