Digging a Wildlife Pond with Help!
This is obviously the finished article (minus the water plants). I now have a fantastic wildlife pond. However, it didn’t just “happen”. The following shows how it came about.
Pic 1: OK, so you have seen the after shot but here is the before shot. This was taken in my garden at about 8am this morning. The poles roughly mark out where the pond will be going.
Pic 2: Next the Volunteer Crew from Dorset Wildlife Trust turn up and set to work clearing the plot and marking out the pond. They kindly said they would help me with this project to encourage even more wildlife into my Corfe Mullen garden.
Pic 3: Next, the pond goes deeper. In the middle it is roughly 2 1/2 feet, with shelves at different heights for different plants, and to encourage different insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Pic 4: Below shows the shelves taking shape, coming up into a shallow-end (where birds and mammals can drink) and hopefully dragonflies will like it too.
Pic 5: Next, all the stones and roots need to be picked out, so that they don’t tear the liner.
Pic 6: After a fleece under-liner and some old carpet have been put down, the pond liner is carefully placed on top.
Pic 7: Now all we have to do is wait for the water to do it’s stuff!
Pic 8: Once full, the crew add some rocks to the back of the pond (for insects and amphibians to hide).
Pic 9: All done. Posing for the camera! Thanks guys, I really couldn’t have done this without you and it looks fantastic. I keep going outside to make sure it’s still there. I can’t wait to get some water plants in and then just sit back and wait for the wildlife to arrive!
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Hi Jane, what a great posting..pond looks great. I wish I had 6 helpers!!! Have you added a litre or so of water from another pond or river? It should speeed up the colonisation as you’ll add micro-fauna and flora. Having the “Dry Stone Wall” area and the grass in the front you will attract all sorts of things, so will look forward to future postings as it develops. Any sign of Dubentons yet
Sorry I can’t make the Moth event tomorrow.
Hi Border Reiver. Thanks! I’m really pleased with it. It would have taken me days and days if I’d had to do it all alone, the volunteer team did an amazing job. I will be borrowing… OK “nicking” some plants from a friends pond, so I guess I could ask for a bucket of water at the same time and slosh my way home along the potholed roads of Dorset… should be fun (if not a little wet!). I will let you know how it progresses (the pond not the wet journey!). No Dubentons… just mozzies at the moment! I can’t make the event on the 21st either, perhaps I will see you at the next one? Jane
Nice work!
Thanks Doug. Nuf said!
That’s a great pond – many shovels make life a lot easier! It looks so good, too.
You are so right Dragonstar, a lot easier with lots of hands and shovels! It’s going to be great.
Your pond’s looking bloomin’ good. Now sit back and wait for the wildlife to arrive! In the bottom photo, which one are you, Jane?
BTW, I think I mayve have accidentally deleted one of your comments on my blog – sorry. Please re-post, if that’s the case.
Hi Kate. Ahh! I’m not in the photo cos I’m taking it! Don’t worry about my comment…. I’ll soon put another one on! Jane
Would you believe it! I happened to glance at my own pond last night – and it’s nearly empty! All I can assume is that the liner has been punctured by a root or something. Have topped it back up for now – if it goes down again, it’s a trip to the aquatic centre for another liner for me. Lucky for me that I had your pond to hone my skilss on earlier in the week! Will have plenty of plants and insect life available for you if I do have to re-line!
Your pond looks great. I am considering having a pond for my khaki campbell ducklings. I think I need your band of helpers!
Sara from farmingfriends
Hi Steve. God, that’s bad luck. If it is the liner let me know and I’ll give you a hand putting a new one in (in exchange for a few plants/insects!). You did say you would have done yours differently, I guess now is the ideal opportunity… Jane
Hi Sara. A duck pond eh! Look forward to seeing that. You will have to have a duck-pond digging BBQ and get your friends round to help dig (and feed them burgers afterwards!).
[...] She has also documented the making of the pond on her own blog which you can visit at: http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/digging-a-wildlife-pond-with-help/#more-405, where you will also find many other interesting stories about conservation both in her back garden [...]
Corfe Mullen Wildlife Pond « The V-team blog said this on July 10, 2008 at 4:15 pm |
[...] it in the garden). Good luck with yours! Here are a couple of posts from my blog about mine Digging the pond Frog arrives Dragonfys arrive Jane __________________ My Nature Diary of Dorset Wildlife & [...]
new Wildlife pond any advice - Wildlife and Environment Forums said this on August 18, 2008 at 2:23 pm |
Nice pond, I just finished building a duck pond and im planning on building a wildlife pond out of reach of the ducks, happy wildlife watching
Hi. Good luck with your pond! Post some pictures once it’s finished! Jane