Building a new pond

[Tursiops2]

Hi Dragonyka, welcome to WAB.

You might find this thread helpful: wildlife haven in the shade?

The Postcode Plants Database The Postcode Plants Database - Natural History Museum will tell you what grows naturally in your area,
Natural England has an excellent factsheet on wildlife ponds, including advice on plant selection:
NE27 - Garden ponds and boggy areas: havens for wildlife
and the Pond Conservation Trust Pond Conservation | Home also has a lot of useful information.

Enjoy

T2

[Malcolm Banks]

Hi Dragonyka, you have received some excellent advice. I would suggest using the soil removed when digging the pond to make a mound about a metre from and along one long edge of the pond. I did a similar thing and used the mound to make a rockery on the pond side, retained by a line of oak logs. The mound will soon be colonized with plants (you could sprinkle some grass seed to give this a lead), and of course planting amongst the rocks will create a good habitat, including a wild area, for the creatures of the pond. Forgive me for stating the obvious but try and keep your topsoil separate, and add this to the mound last.
Just a suggestion
M

[Dragonyka]

Thanks for all the tips.

Check with your Allotment Association that you can indeed put a pond in, _before you start_ different rules can apply in different areas. Most allow water butts as safe for children.

I did before I even started planning my pond at a meeting of the allotment association with the local council's allotment person present. He said it was ok, but requested the grill to keep it safe. And yes, it was H&S/"what happens if kids get onto the site?" questions that prompted it I think.

Tursiops: Thanks for the web sites... I'll certainly be browsing for quite a while!

I notice you say you have a large stream 100yds away. Get a bucket and use water from it to fill and top up your pond. Don't use tap water. You need a 10ft rope on the bucket so you can chuck it in to fill by sinking and then haul out. River water is absolutely the best for wildlife.

I had wondered about this. I'll have to figure out where the easiest access is.

as for plants I have a wildlife pond, no pump or filter and lots of oxygenators the other plants seem to die but the ones that thrive are yellow flag iris they help filter the water and bog marigold they grow in the margins or the damp bank and look great in early spring..

They're going right on the top of my list to buy then!

As your pond is on land that is not confined to your garden make sure you only use native plants or you could be responsible for spreading invasive species pond plants are a lot more vigorous than none aquatics..

I'm quite worried about this - I don't want to start off on a bad footing, let alone introduce something invasive where it's not currently growing. I think I'm going to go down to the river and do a bit of a survey of what I can see growing there (although now's probably not a great time for doing this, thinking about it.)

I would suggest using the soil removed when digging the pond to make a mound about a metre from and along one long edge of the pond. I did a similar thing and used the mound to make a rockery on the pond side, retained by a line of oak logs. The mound will soon be colonized with plants (you could sprinkle some grass seed to give this a lead), and of course planting amongst the rocks will create a good habitat, including a wild area, for the creatures of the pond. Forgive me for stating the obvious but try and keep your topsoil separate, and add this to the mound last.

What a great suggestion! I hadn't really considered the whole topsoil/undersoil thing - goes to show what a complete novice I am (and it seems it wasn't obvious to me so please keep stating ) I think I may be able to separate what I've dug though as the top layer I piled in one place and then extended the pile sideways as I've dug. Fingers crossed I've done it right by accident! Live and learn I say - I won't forget next time!

Thanks again everyone!

[Kayleigh]

Just be aware what is growing is native as there are lots of none native aliens out there dont make a mistake and plant something you think is native and regret later..
Take some pics and get them id,d here..
This might be of help.

Native pond plants.

http://www.mimmacks.co.uk/catalogue~cat~A-21B.asp

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Just be aware what is growing is native as there are lots of none native aliens out there dont make a mistake and plant something you think is native and regret later..
Take some pics and get them id,d here..

Good point. I'll take my camera!

I hope the weather's nice enough this weekend for me to go and look now!

[Red Robin]

Personally I wouldn't be over concerned about what's "native" - It gets pretty academic when you realise that monkeys, lions, and even elephants were once native to Britain (according to Tony Robinson). Watch out for the hippos, especially at night

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

Personally I wouldn't be over concerned about what's "native" - It gets pretty academic when you realise that monkeys, lions, and even elephants were once native to Britain (according to Tony Robinson). Watch out for the hippos, especially at night

That's a bit irresponsible as the pond is planned on an allotment with a stream nearby and there are seriously problematic invasive plants on the market.

[Deb London]

Couldn't agree more.

Be Plant Wise : Directgov

Please avoid non-native and invasive aquatic species.

We were on a bird club walk once and everyone was admiring the lovely plant that covered a London pond. Since some of the members had been teaching me to identify a couple of herbaceous wildflowers, I was a little shocked to hear this, because they didn't have a clue what they were looking at. This plant was Parrot's Feather (also sold as Brazilian water-milfoil or as 'oxygenator') (Myriophyllum aquaticum, Myriophyllum brasiliense, Myriophyllum proserpinacoides). It was choking the life out of the pond. I'll try and find this pond in Summer. I want to see if anyone has cleared the stuff . Or to see if it has spread.

Not everyone realises the damage that is caused by plants like the ones on the following list:

Here are five examples of invasive aquatic plants that you might find in your pond. If you do discover an invasive species, don't panic - just be plant wise and remember to dispose of any unwanted plants by composting them.
Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
New Zealand Pigmyweed also known as Australian Swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)
Water-primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Water fern (Azolla filiculoides)

[Red Robin]

I like my Parrot's Feather and have no intention of getting rid. In my small pond it's very easy to keep an eye on it and control simply by trimming/cutting.

Each To Their Own

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

That's a bit irresponsible as the pond is planned on an allotment with a stream nearby and there are seriously problematic invasive plants on the market.

....I understand your concern about the 'invasive' plants but are you of the opinion that it would be irresponsible to use the stream water in this new pond?

Or are you concerned that 'invasive' plants might escape into the nearby stream?