Pond restoration - advice needed

[Tursiops2]

It looks like I might have a very interesting project on my hands.

As I’ve mentioned before, a friend is looking to take on the lease of a country pub. He’s a chef, and he’s looking for a “gastro” type pub so his priorities are good kitchens and dining areas, but he’s also keen to find a pub with a good garden. As he doesn’t know much about gardens he’s enlisted me as his “landscape adviser”, and over the last couple of months he’s taken me to view several possibilities.

On Friday last we visited pub in north Suffolk that looks extremely promising. It has a large garden, and I’m now writing a report on the potential for restoration and improvement of this garden for him to include in his business plan. I’d like some opinions on one particular aspect.

The garden is dominated by a large, and much neglected, pond. Pic 1 shows the pond from the NE, Pic 2 is a montage of photos taken from the SW, covering about 120º. It would appear, as far as I can tell, to have obvious potential for restoration both as an ornamental feature, and as a wildlife pond. I’m fairly sure, in principle, what needs to be done, but work on this scale is well outside my practical experience, and I’d appreciate practical advice.

1.


2.


Bearing in mind that I was only able to give it a most cursory and superficial examination (the weather was foul, I only had ten minutes between showers to take some pics of the whole garden), this is my initial assessment:

The pond is elliptical, approximately 12m – 15m SW – NE, 8m – 10m NW –SE. It is quite old, clearly pre-dating the use of butyl liners, and appears to be clay-lined with vertical sides. There are indications of some brick/stone work on the S side, but I suspect this is the opening of a land-drain from the garden. The water level appears to be some 30cm below what was originally intended, so there is obviously some damage to the lining above this level. Present water depth (along the S side, at least) appears to be no more than 60cm – 80cm.

There are four trees planted in close proximity to the pond: a weeping willow and a Horse Chestnut to the SE, and two weeping willows to the N. Apart from a bank of irises along the SW edge, there is little in the way of emergent or marginal vegetation. A few submerged plants are visible from the S edge.

The eastern side of the pond is heavily shaded by the willow and chestnut to the S, and along the northern edge by the trees on that side. The SW end, and about 40%-50% of the surface, gets good sun. It appears that the pond has rarely, if ever, been cleaned out, and decades of leaf-fall from the trees have accumulated along the NE edge, creating an extensive “beach” of sediment. There is some blanket weed (but not much) along the N edge. Some bubbles (methane?) were observed rising to the surface. The water is crystal clear; the bottom of the pond could clearly be seen along the S edge, and appeared to be relatively free of debris here.

Obviously, the pond needs to be cleared of organic matter, but am I right in assuming that:

A) The presence of blanket weed indicates nutrients in the water, but its limited extent, and the clarity of the water, suggests that this isn’t as bad as it could be?

B) The nutrients in the sediment around the NE edge will have leached out long ago, and it’s the breakdown of the more recent, solid, material that is now the main problem?

If the pond is clay-lined, how susceptible to damage is it likely to be? Will it be OK to walk on the bottom in waders, and to use a manure drag to remove debris?

A couple of questions on future planting:

1. The “beach” of sediment is heavily shaded, and water-logged. Removing it without draining the pond or using a mechanical digger would be difficult, if not impossible. Making the best of a bad job, would this be a suitable place to plant up with ferns?

2. The pond clearly needs more marginal/emergent vegetation in the sunny areas, but extending the pond to accommodate a “wetland” is clearly out of the question. The alternative is to construct something within the pond; i.e. the equivalent of the sediment beach, but consisting of nutrient-free material, along the NW side. Would this simply be a case of dumping barrow-loads of a suitable substrate along the edge of the pond until the desired area is covered? At the moment, I’m thinking of crushed cockle shells, with or without a retaining wall of old car tyres, but I’m open to better (and/or cheaper) suggestions.

Any other comments or advice will be much appreciated.

T2

[Dan Salter]

Doesnt look too bad to me?

I dont think it can be classed as vertical sides either? the sloping shore/edge looks about right for most wildlife.

With regard the clay...the technique is to have it puddled ( as you probably know) i think this involves emptying out water and borrowing a sheep or two...put them in and let them puddle the clay with their hoofs...

other than that im not sure what you want to achieve...the worst possible thing would be to build an ornamental brick or stone edge all round...put in spotlights, koi and a huge fountain in the centre.....yuck..

keep it tasteful and in keeping with a country pub what ever you decide on

[galanthus]

I agree with Dan, it doesn't look too bad to me either. I would think a carefully thought out bit of marginal planting and a sweep clean with a large net may do the trick ? Maybe clearing some sediment by hand and perhaps a very subtle pebble beach type thing as opposed to cockleshells ? I also agree that stuffing it full of yukky fish and chinese bridges etc would be a shame.

Looks like a great location, lucky person, I'd be there all day instead of running the pub lol

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Doesnt look too bad to me?

I dont think it can be classed as vertical sides either? the sloping shore/edge looks about right for most wildlife.

Hi Dan

If you look closely, in both photos you can see what I think is the exposed lining of the pond above the water level on the opposite side - it appears to be vertical, or nearly so. I could be wrong, I haven't had the chance to examine it in detail, but I suspect that what appear to be shallow sloping edges are actually the result of sedimentation, and possibly the partial collapse of the upper sides.

I think it unlikely that it was built with marginal plants/wildlife in mind, (it might well have been intended for ornamental fish originally) especially as the most suitable place for marginal planting (the eastern "beach", in the foreground in pic 1) is probably the result of sedimentation, and is in deep shade for most of the day - hence my query about the suitability of this area for ferns rather than the more usual "wetland" planting.

Cheers
T2

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

the worst possible thing would be to build an ornamental brick or stone edge all round...put in spotlights, koi and a huge fountain in the centre.....yuck..

I quite agree. No chance of that happening!

[naturelover]

i think it looks natural how it is,hasnt got that man made look,takes years to get a pond to look like that as though it belongs there,i say leave well alone but then its your choice not mine.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Sounds like a potential nightmare, a pond that size at a pub ! Particularly as your friend is thinking of catering, which will inevitably bring families with young children. Boozy parents and unruly kids combined with a large area of water; what a combination, hardly bears thinking about.

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

1. The “beach” of sediment is heavily shaded, and water-logged. Removing it without draining the pond or using a mechanical digger would be difficult, if not impossible. Making the best of a bad job, would this be a suitable place to plant up with ferns?

2. The pond clearly needs more marginal/emergent vegetation in the sunny areas, but extending the pond to accommodate a “wetland” is clearly out of the question. The alternative is to construct something within the pond; i.e. the equivalent of the sediment beach, but consisting of nutrient-free material, along the NW side. Would this simply be a case of dumping barrow-loads of a suitable substrate along the edge of the pond until the desired area is covered? At the moment, I’m thinking of crushed cockle shells, with or without a retaining wall of old car tyres, but I’m open to better (and/or cheaper) suggestions.

T2

I doubt there's anything I can tell you that you don't know as you seem very knowledgeable about this sort of thing
But, In a heavily shaded, marshy area in my garden I've got yellow Flag Irises growing very successfully, they seem very happy. This might be a nice one to put in here? They'd be good for water insects and the flowers are good for bees and flies. However the down side of these is that they can take over pretty quickly so they'd probably need cutting down each winter which may involve wading around in the pond.
Also, I'm not sure about cost, but gravel and sand could also be possible things used to form a beachy part for planting.
It looks like it has the potential to be excellent for wildlife, good luck with the project.
Guy

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

Sounds like a potential nightmare, a pond that size at a pub ! Particularly as your friend is thinking of catering, which will inevitably bring families with young children. Boozy parents and unruly kids combined with a large area of water; what a combination, hardly bears thinking about.

Hmmm lets not let bloomin H+S get in the way...i have been to many a country pub with ponds, duck ponds and streams....it would be awful to have to fence it but maybe a small pickett fence may be in order...but...if it hasnt had to have this until now and the pub has previously been open i guess the H+S inspectors are fine with it.
I go to a pub in Whitstable that is literally on the shingle of the beach....no sign of fences around the sea?..

You obviously know the pond better than us Turs so if it is worse than it looks than fair enough...but whatever you do you need to keep the sloping beach style edges as you already know.

[Cazzie]

I think it's FAB! Ok, so H&S 'might' have an issue with it (btw, what does it say on that red sign on the willow? - keep your kids away, we're not liable?!?)

I reckon with a bit of debris clearing and re-planting around the edges it'll be even better and I bet it's already a haven for many types of wildlife