Wildlife Container Pond?

[Ilex]

Well, its been a while but I've finally got a half barrel ordered . 'Tis a butt and will be around two feet deep and three in diameter. Can't wait .

Graeme

[Ilex]

The half butt arrived today and it is huge (34.5" diameter by 22.5" depth). When the snow goes and the ground softens I'll have to do a wee bit levelling. Once the barrel is in situ, I'll leave it to fill with rain then order the necessary plants when they become available in May. Picture hopefully soon .

I plan on putting logs and large stones together round the outside to act as a ramp for animal access. A chicken-wired oak board will be a ramp inside the barrel for stricken hedgehogs to escape and I'll plant a few marginals in baskets on top of stacked bricks as well as some oxygenators and frogbit. Some tall plants and grasses growing up round the barrel and an ivy for climbing frogs (thanks, Kayleigh ).

Am I better placing the barrel on hard standing i.e. slabs or gravel? The proposed location is on an area of grass but I'm concerned this will aid rotting of the barrel. I have a few old small slabs lying in the garage but am loathe to create unnecessary work for myself.

Cheers again folks,
Graeme

[Jez]

I really like what you will be doing with your container Graeme! Wishing you every success with it. I'd be inclined to put it on something firm for peace of mind!


All the best

Jez

[Ilex]

UPDATE: Very sorry for not posting for a while but the plants are in now! I've got two bunches of Hornwort in as the oxygenator, three water-planting bags filled with aquatic compost and topped with pea gravel which contain Yellow Flag, Water Mint and Water Forget-me-not respectively. There's also two patches of Frogbit floating on the surface. Down below on the ground surrounding the barrel there is Water Avens, Creeping Jenny, Bugle, Lady's Smock, an Ivy (which I'll train up the side) and Pendulous Sedge.

Well before the plants were added, a water scavenger beetle had moved in and could be seen dodging around. My own wee beastie! Additionally, I observed a much smaller water beetle swimming then settling on a brick ledge before moving off again so here's hoping I see more and more as things progress and the plants grow.

I didn't have to seal my barrel as the wet, snowy winter did it for me although I did have to top it up with tap water occasionally. I put the plants in about 9 days after the last tap water top up and its been fine since. As Jez suggested, I did put the pond on some hard-standing in the shape of a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom of the barrel, filled with stone chips. Should help excess water to drain away from the oak bottom whilst not losing too much from the boggy surrounding area.

I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow but I'm notoriously poo with a camera

Thanks again for the wonderful help and inspiration from all who replied.

Graeme

[Ilex]

UPDATE: Very sorry for not posting for a while but the plants are in now! I've got two bunches of Hornwort in as the oxygenator, three water-planting bags filled with aquatic compost and topped with pea gravel which contain Yellow Flag, Water Mint and Water Forget-me-not respectively. There's also two patches of Frogbit floating on the surface. Down below on the ground surrounding the barrel there is Water Avens, Creeping Jenny, Bugle, Lady's Smock, an Ivy (which I'll train up the side) and Pendulous Sedge.

Well before the plants were added, a water scavenger beetle had moved in and could be seen dodging around -my own wee beastie! Additionally, Today I observed a much smaller water beetle swimming then settling on a brick ledge before moving off again so here's hoping I see more and more as things progress and the plants grow.

I didn't have to seal my barrel as the wet, snowy winter did it for me although I did have to top it up with tap water occasionally. I put the plants in about 9 days after the last tap water top up and its been fine since. As Jez suggested, I did put the barrel on some hard-standing in the shape of a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom of the barrel, filled with stone chips. Should help excess water to drain away from the oak bottom whilst not losing too much from the boggy surrounding area.

I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow but I'm notoriously poo with a camera

Thanks again for the wonderful help and inspiration from all who replied.

Graeme

[Kayleigh]

Well done and looking forward to the pics..
I have water fleas, water slaters, all sorts of beasties in mine and this year was a record 5 blobs of frog spawn now hundreds of tadpoles being fed on dried bloodworm.

[Ilex]

Sorry no pictures today Kayleigh but I did manage to build the hog frog log stairway round the side and back of the barrel.

Tomorrow I'll hopefully manage to get an oak plank from my Father-in-Law and put some mesh on as an escape board.

I do have an oxygenator question or two though: I have put two bunches of Hornwort in the barrel and given the measurements stated above, should I really put in some more or just wait for the Hornwort to multiply? If I do add more, should that just be more Hornwort or another such as Water Starwort or Spiked Water Milfoil? Are these two planted in bags/baskets then lowered to the bottom of the barrel?

Obeserved more, much tinier water beetles weaving around .

Thanks again,
Graeme

[Kayleigh]

This is a recent pic of mine..
I have lots of elodea crispa I know its not native but it is one of the best oxygenators.
I also have water milfoil the more the better as they keep the water fresh.

[motnworb]

Not really got anything to add, but just wanted to give you some encouragement.

We have a tiny city garden and built a very small (1.5m long 0.5m wide)wildlife pond last year. It ended up in the only spot free and that's squeezed under our rowan tree next to a holly bush.

I'm happy to say its growing fantastically, although I do spend a fair bit of time removing leaves. Its got nice clear water and we've got damselfly, mayflies, frogspawn, beetles, and loads of smaller inverts. Its a pleasure to sit by and proves that even tiny water features work. So go for it.