Is this pond big enough for wildlife like frogs and dragonflies?

[JV]

Its 15cm deep and 50 cm all around.
There are 3 healthy plants in there and lond grass around it with a rock and wood pile near by.
I have MANY daphnia in there which keep the water clean and a few water snails.

Heres are some pictures:

[Dogghound]

Its unlikely you will get dragonflies as it will not support enough prey and does not have a sufficient vegetation structure. You may get frogs in it but it is too small to breed in typically, although frogs often do breed in very small often temporary ponds so there is a chance. Its to shallow for them to overwinter in it. You will get plenty of small invertebrates within it though. I would encourage more aquatic plant growth, try and encourage more rough vegetation around it if possible, build a log pile or rock pile and think about extending it. These basic steps will greatly enhance its value to both amphibians and invertebrates including dragonflies.

[dampflippers]

I agree with dogghound, but it will also be used for birds to bathe in and for hedgehogs to drink from.

I would add more soil round it, or dig it deeper so that things can climb in easier- frogs, newts etc, and fill the pond as high as you can. You'll also need some sort of ramp to allow forgs and newts (and hedgehogs) to climb out. Either a piece of wood, or a brick at the egde or a potted marginal.

What plants have you got in it? It neexts some oxygenators. Something like water forgetmenot or brooklime would thrive as a marginal in that depth.

The water level will go down quickly in dry weather, so use rain water from a water butt for that.

[JV]

Thanks i think i will replce it with a bigger tub with slopes and add more plants.
I already have a brick in there.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by JV

Thanks i think i will replce it with a bigger tub with slopes and add more plants.
I already have a brick in there.

Why not leave the one you've already taken the trouble to install and put a larger one, (or two), beside it? It will be interesting to see just what wildlife the small one will attract. You can't have too many.
Dorts.

[King Edward]

Have a look at this old thread which I noticed recently - breeding frogs and toads in a bucket pond.

You might also want to have a look at the Pond Conservation website and Jeremy Biggs's Garden Pond Blog - the latter in particular stresses that clean water (i.e. low in nutrients especially) is the most important factor for a good wildlife pond. Yours sounds like it's good in that respect, so topping up with rainwater as dampflippers suggests and keeping soil out of the pond as far as you can (just use a layer of sand/gravel for planting on the bottom, possibly that's what you have already going by the photos).

Overall, I see no reason why it shouldn't attract frogs and smooth newts if they're around, possibly a few dragon/damselflies as well. Plus water beetles, water boatmen and other insects.

I'd suggest replacing the bricks (unless they're essential for support) with a slope of soil or sand (sand might be better to avoid getting soil in the pond) leading up to the rim, so you could allow the grass to grow up and over the edges. Grass trailing into the water is a very good aquatic habitat, and I think it would look better as well. You don't necessarily have to have traditional pond plants - after all, an equivalent natural pond might be a small depression in wet grassland.

The space between the pond and the fence looks a good spot for a log pile, right by the pond, or else just let the grass grow longer there and a bit tussocky to provide more cover.

I wouldn't try to extend the pond, but of course you could add another (or more than one) to create a complex of mini ponds. With a few small ponds surrounded and linked by long grass you could potentially get a fair number of species.

[JV]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Why not leave the one you've already taken the trouble to install and put a larger one, (or two), beside it? It will be interesting to see just what wildlife the small one will attract. You can't have too many.
Dorts.

thank you but i really want a range of wildlife in it!

[JV]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Have a look at this old thread which I noticed recently - breeding frogs and toads in a bucket pond.

You might also want to have a look at the Pond Conservation website and Jeremy Biggs's Garden Pond Blog - the latter in particular stresses that clean water (i.e. low in nutrients especially) is the most important factor for a good wildlife pond. Yours sounds like it's good in that respect, so topping up with rainwater as dampflippers suggests and keeping soil out of the pond as far as you can (just use a layer of sand/gravel for planting on the bottom, possibly that's what you have already going by the photos).

Overall, I see no reason why it shouldn't attract frogs and smooth newts if they're around, possibly a few dragon/damselflies as well. Plus water beetles, water boatmen and other insects.

I'd suggest replacing the bricks (unless they're essential for support) with a slope of soil or sand (sand might be better to avoid getting soil in the pond) leading up to the rim, so you could allow the grass to grow up and over the edges. Grass trailing into the water is a very good aquatic habitat, and I think it would look better as well. You don't necessarily have to have traditional pond plants - after all, an equivalent natural pond might be a small depression in wet grassland.

The space between the pond and the fence looks a good spot for a log pile, right by the pond, or else just let the grass grow longer there and a bit tussocky to provide more cover.

I wouldn't try to extend the pond, but of course you could add another (or more than one) to create a complex of mini ponds. With a few small ponds surrounded and linked by long grass you could potentially get a fair number of species.

Hello
I already have a log pile and rock pile near the pond
thanks for the advice but i want a big range of wildlife so i think i will replace it with ALL of these ideas!

[Kayleigh]

As its so small it might freeze right through in the winter and anything living or overwintering in there will perish...
just something to think about..

I have a half barrel that is about 12" deep and 18" across but it never freezes all through.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by JV

thank you but i really want a range of wildlife in it!

....Then I think that my wildlife pond is the smallest you would want to have (ignore the rockery). Get rid of any fish if you want the other creatures and to make it easier to keep water quality high. And don't use tap water.



It's a commercially produced moulded pond liner.

It's a good idea to provide a separate 'bath' (the rectangular green tray) with easier access for birds and other creatures to drink from rather than tempt them into your pond.