Clay lined pond advice

[Columbine]

I would like to create a wildlife pond in an area of wet grassland, previously used for grazing, the soil is very heavy, solid red clay. My intention is not to have a liner as I am sure there won't be a problem with the clay holding water. I am concerned though, that there isn't a natural feed for the pond. We could divert a land drain which also has the rainwater from the roof of some outbuildings emptying into it. Would this be a good idea?
Any comments or advice on any aspect of this project would be much appreciated, if I am likely to end up with a muddy hole, I'd rather know!

[Tursiops2]

Hi columbine.

I haven't had any experience of this myself, but it's certainly theoretically possible. The best people to talk to would probably be the Pond Conservation Trust. Have a look at their factsheets here: Pond Conservation | Pond Creation Toolkit | Pond creation toolkit
and drop them an email if you have any unanswered questions (they're very helpful, and your pond would fit in nicely with their "Million Ponds" project). Also, contact your local Wildlife Trust for more locally-based advice.

Good luck, I would be interested to know how it works out.
T2

[Columbine]

That's brilliant T2, I hadn't heard of the Pond Conservation Trust but had a quick look at the website from your link and it seems to have loads of useful info.
Thanks very much, I will let you know how it goes.

[Gill Catton]

Of course the obvious is to look at the lie of the land and look at how you reckon water would drain though the soil and place your pond at the lowest point possible and good and low compared to the topsoil layer to maximise natural overland drainage into the pond. Apoloies if this teaching you to suck eggs as it were but you'd be amazed how many man made ponds I come across where this most obvious of considerations for a pond location is completely ignored - many even have a lip higher than the surrounding soil and unsuprisingly struggle to hold water even once in three years........

[Columbine]

Thanks for your comments Gill, all advice is definately welcome. There is a bit of slope in the land so we have ear marked the lowest point and doing the surrounding area is a big concern, I do want to get it right so you are definately not teaching me to suck eggs!