Ponds for all Big or small, wildaboutgardens.org.uk - Wild About Gardens
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#wildaboutgardens
wildaboutgardens.org.uk
Big or small,
ponds for all
Surrey Hills Photography
Jon Hawkins
Why a pond? As underwater
larvae, dragonflies
will eat any
animal smaller Dragonflies have
than themselves, extremely good
including tadpoles. vision, making them
Adding a pond is one of the best things great
you can do for wildlife in your garden predators
of smaller
We’re losing our flying insects. When resting,
ponds, rivers dragonflies hold
and streams at a their wings out flat
rapid rate. The loss from their body, like a
or degradation of these plane, while damselflies
places – to development, fold their wings up
drainage and Amphibians behind them.
intensive farming Frogs have the travel to find the
– is linked to a ability to best home, often up
huge decline
breathe to 500m from their
Did you
in wildlife, from breeding site.
frogs and toads, to through
water voles and insects.
their skin,
know?
which lets them stay
How you can help
under water without
Not all is lost. There is a lot we can do in our drowning.
own gardens and communities to help. Even a
small pond can be home to an interesting range Fish are
of wildlife, including damsel and dragonflies, voracious eaters of
frogs and newts. It could also become a feeding newt eggs and
frog spawn
ground for birds, hedgehogs and bats – the best The tropical waterlily,
natural garden pest controllers! Victoria amazonica,
and can have a negative has leaves that
Think big, start small effect on the nature of
a garden pond. grow up to
Your pond needn’t be big. A washing-up bowl, A healthy 15cm per day
a large plant pot, or a disused sink could all be garden pond is to a total of up to 3m in
repurposed as ponds, providing you make sure likely to support diameter.
creatures can get in and out. See page 5 for a a greater range of
step-by-step on making your pond. wildlife than any
other feature in
your garden.
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Illustration: Corinne Welch
© Copyright Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 2019 and Royal Horticultural Society 2019
Mini ponds
If you don’t think you Your upcycled pond
have space for a pond,
think again Your pond will need a wide ‘neck’
so wildlife can get in and out.
Mini ponds are incredibly valuable Other than that, the shape really
for wildlife, and a network of small doesn’t matter! Sink your pond or
ponds in a neighbourhood could be add a ramp for creatures to access.
better than just a few large ones. Be creative – is there anything
Not only that but they are cheap, that you could upcycle, such as a
easy to create and even easier to washing-up bowl, wheelbarrow
take care of. Mini ponds can be basin, sawn-off plastic dustbin,
constructed from a whole range half barrel, rubber trug, large plant
of containers! pot or sink?
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www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk Dupree/Shutte www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk
RHS
Planting At the edge:
These plants are good for
Submerged plants:
Otherwise known as
your pond
shallower parts and edges of your oxygenators, they will keep
pond (up to a water depth of 5cm). your water healthy. They are
arsh marigold (*AGM)
M not essential for a small pond.
(Caltha palustris) ater-crowfoot
W
Large golden flowers in March (Ranunculus aquatilis)
ater plantain
W White flowers in May
Plants are an important part of your wildlife (Alisma plantago-aquatica) Water violet
pond, oxygenating the water and providing food May overwhelm small ponds (Hottonia palustris)
Lesser spearwort Lilac flowers in summer
and shelter. Use UK native species where possible.
(Ranunculus flammula) Pillwort
Bright yellow flowers, bold (Pilularia globulifera)
The basics blue-green leaves Willow moss
Growing pond plants in l hoose an aquatic compost or use
C Water forget-me-not (Fontinalis antipyretica)
containers is a good option for a mix of sand and gravel. (Myosotis scorpioides) Best planted attached to
a smaller pond as it keeps them l To stabilise taller plants place
Blue flowers in May. a stone.
from spreading. Aquatic baskets large rocks and stones in the base
usually have lattice sides to of containers.
allow water, air and other gases l Plants should be planted to the same Floating plants Plants for small ponds:
to flow through. Unless the mesh soil-depth as in the original container. and waterlilies: Miniature waterlily (*AGM)
is very fine, they should also be l Firm plants in well and then apply a These plants offer a perch for (Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’)
lined with hessian or fabric to thin layer of grit or fine gravel. animals such as frogs and bees. esser spearwort
L
prevent the soil washing out. l Floating plants can be placed gently
Frogbit (Ranunculus flammula)
on the water’s surface. Separate large (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
clumps and aim for one plant per Starwort
Small white flowers (Callitriche stagnalis)
square metre.
Water soldier Flowering rush
(Stratiotes aloides) (Butomus umbellatus).
Floats just below surface.
May overwhelm small ponds
White waterlily *AGM
(Nymphaea alba) RHS Award of
Only suitable for larger ponds. Garden Merit
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5
1
2
6
3
Low bushes provide
1 cover for birds
7
Long grass or pots
2 shelter frogs
4
Ramps allow wildlife
3 access and escape
Plants add oxygen to
4 the pond water
8 Ponds create feeding
5 grounds for bats
A wildlife
Bees rest on floating
6 plants to drink
lants provide places
P
7
pond in action
for wildlife to cling to
and lay eggs
Rocks create hiding
8 spaces for newts
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Illustration: Corinne Welch Illustration: Corinne Welch
© Copyright Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 2019 and Royal Horticultural Society 2019 © Copyright Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 2019 and Royal Horticultural Society 2019
www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Looking after your Autumn
pond year-round
If you need to carry out any
maintenance work, such as
removing silt, do it now while the
pond is less active. Plants will also
die back at this time. Allow the
pond enough light by removing
excess fallen leaves and cutting
Spring Summer back overhanging branches.
Put in barley straw pads to help Evaporation is normal, but if water
reduce problems with algae. Try levels drop low, top it up with rain
not to disturb your pond too much water. Keep grass around the pond
at this time, there is a lot of activity long to shelter young frogs.
below the surface. Introduce any
new plants where needed from Cut back vigorous plants and
mid-spring. You can divide plants remove duckweed. Blanketweed
and compost any excess. can also be pulled out in small
amounts at a time, but be careful Winter
to check for trapped newts, water
boatmen, or other creatures. If you Freezing over is normal and unlikely
notice this, swill the weeds in a to reduce oxygen levels too much in
bucket with pond water a healthy pond. A mini pond could
before adding the liams be insulated with bubble wrap, kept
a Wil
Ann
wildlife back to close to the house, or sunk into the
the pond. ground to help prevent it freezing.
Avoid smashing the ice as shards
could cause damage.
RHS
If your pond is the only drinking
source for wildlife then leave a
ball in the water to keep an ice
free section near the edge.
Alternatively melt a hole by
holding a pan of hot water
on the surface. Brush off
any fallen snow from
the surface of your
pond to allow light to
illiams
reach the water.
na W
An
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Guy Edwardes/2020VISION
Your top
pond tips
1. 4.
Safety first: Timed splash:
If you are worried about smaller You can start your pond at any time
people or pets, consider of the year, but if you do it in autumn
Don’t want a pond? There are covering your pond with a wire or winter it will be ready for the
grid that also allows frogs in flurry of activity in the spring.
other things you can do and out, or if it is larger, a fence
to surround it. Avoid netting as
1
Dig a shallow channel or hollow which
will allow excess rainwater to pool.
animals might get caught.
5.
This will slow storm water run-off and How big?
add wildlife habitat to your garden. A 2m by 2m and 60cm deep garden
2. pond is perfect for overwintering
2
Fill saucers and bird baths with water Sharing’s frogs. A mini pond 20-30cm-deep
not caring:
for wildlife to have a drink or a splash; will also be valuable for wildlife.
add marbles or stones to a shallow
water dish to allow a perch for bees. Avoid sharing water between
ponds, as this can transfer
Visit a pond near to you and check disease or invasive species. 6.
3 out what wildlife is living there. Beat the
blanketweed:
Let us know what you’ve spotted!
Make a mini bog garden as a low
3. Adding lavender or barley straw
4 maintenance alternative to a pond. Simply fill Leave the fish: to your pond in spring can help keep
your container or space with soil and plant It’s best not to add fish to your pond it free of algae and blanketweed.
it with marginal plants from p.7. Visit as they can pollute the water and Remove the straw at the end of the
www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk for more info. eat the other plant and animals. season to avoid it rotting.
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About Us
The Wildlife Trusts and the RHS set up Wild About Gardens to celebrate wildlife gardening and
to encourage people to act for nature. Over the past 50 years we’ve seen declines in two thirds of
the UK’s plant and animal species. Many of our common garden visitors – including hedgehogs,
house sparrows and starlings – are increasingly under threat.
To discover more about wildlife gardening and creating the perfect pond for you visit us online.
You can also sign up to our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media to receive updates
and ideas on all things wild about gardens.
wildaboutgardens.org.uk | facebook.com/groups/WildAboutGardens
The Wildlife Trusts The Royal Horticultural Society
No matter where you are in the UK, there For more than 210 years, the RHS has been
is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people about the force behind gardening in the UK. Our
the natural world and saving, protecting aim is to enrich everyone’s life through
and standing up for wildlife and wild places plants, and to make the UK a greener and
near you. We believe that people are a part more beautiful place. We believe everyone in
of nature; everything we value ultimately every village, town and city should benefit
comes from it and everything we do has an from growing – for stronger, healthier and
impact on it. happier communities.
Supported by more than 800,000 members, Our work in education, science and
together The Wildlife Trusts care for 2,300 communities is only possible thanks
diverse and beautiful nature reserves. The to the generous support of our
nature reserves we look after are home to visitors, members, partners,
ancient undisturbed soils, and our members donors and sponsors. With
help us to protect them. We work to inspire your help we can harness the
and empower people to take action in their power of horticulture, one
lives to help wildlife. gardener at a time.
email: info@wildlifetrusts.org email: membership@rhs.org.uk
Online: wildlifetrusts.org Online: rhs.org.uk
@WildlifeTrusts /wildlifetrusts @The_RHS /rhshome
thewildlifetrusts the_rhs rhshome
Registered Charity No 207238 Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262
Front cover image ©Ross Hoddinott/naturepl.com
Illustrations by Corinne Welch
Thank you to Freshwater Habitats Trust and
Froglife for advice and assistance
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