Create a Wildlife Haven in your garden...

Wildlife ponds have become popular as we become environmentally aware and want to encourage wildlife in the garden. A well designed wildlife pond is great for nature, as well as being an attractive garden feature. A garden wildlife pond can provide a home for many species and is one of the best features for attracting new wildlife to the garden.

These natural ponds are not only truly beautiful and educational for children, but you will also be helping the ecosystem of your whole garden. Garden ponds are vital for wildlife, they act as stepping-stones in areas that have lost other bodies of water in the landscape and can be particularly useful for species such as frogs and newts, providing links within an increasingly fragmented habitat. More birds and wildlife will also visit you, some you may not have seen before. Natural ponds can be a real haven for wildlife.

Creating a wildlife pond only takes a weekend, yet can deliver results very quickly. Build a pond, fill it with rainwater and within a few hours wildlife in the form of flying insects will start arriving. Plant it with native plants found close to home to make sure you’re providing the best natural habitat for local species, and within a year or two you’ll have an established wildlife pond.

Planting tips:

1. Offering a mix of long grass, log piles and rocks will encourage frogs to stay all year and provide stopping-off points for dispersing froglets. Slabs or strips of timber will shelter newts and frogs.

2. Most creatures and plants live in the shallow water at the edges, so create a pond that is 25–30cm deep with gently sloping edges to provide the best habitat for amphibians and invertebrates.

3. Think like a pond creature. These animals want dense vegetation that offers a place to hide and encourages other creatures that are a vital food source.

4. Allow grasses and plants to trail over the edge of the pond. This will provide great habitat for water beetles.

5. Get species that already grow in the area, so try freshwater sources within 30km of your home. You can let plants populate naturally, but this process can take a few years.