Basic HTML Version
M A K I N G y o u r
w i l d l i f e p o n d
p
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n
d
v
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s
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t
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r
s
Water fleas
(
Daphnia
)
Step 5.
Start filling
with water
Step 7.
Plant up
Step 6.
Tidy up the
edges
Step 8.
Maintain
and enjoy!
Liners come pre-formed or cut-to-fit. Cut-to-fit liners allow
you the freedom to make your wildlife pond your own shape,
size and depth.
Pre-formed
ponds:
Many garden centres
sell pre-formed ponds,
usually made of plastic or
fibreglass, largely designed
for housing ornamental
fish. These need to be
carefully dug beforehand,
but can last a long time
(many over twenty years).
The downside is that there
is no room for creativity,
and many pre-formed liner
designs are exclusively
fish-friendly, lacking slopes
for other wildlife to get in
and out.
Some people choose to
make raised up garden
ponds with troughs or
raised pre- formed liners.
Remember that many
animals will find this much
harder to get in and out of,
so include some rocks or
stones to help them.
Liner ponds:
Lining a pond with a
flexible material that can
be cut to fit allows you
to be more creative with
shape and size. Many
websites have special
calculators to help you find
out how much liner you
need, or you can ask your
supplier for advice.
UNDERLAY:
The
disadvantage of using
these liners is that they
can be prone to punctures,
often from sharp stones,
(plus the occasional
claw or beak). Don’t let
this put you off though,
just be sure to add an
extra protective layer
underneath - an old carpet
or a layer of sand will form
a protective barrier under
your liner.
Liner types:
Rubber:
Rubber liners
are flexible, strong and
durable. There are lots of
different grades available
for different prices. It is
available off the roll in
some garden and pond
centres or can be ordered
online.
PVC:
This is a lot cheaper
than rubber, but is not as
flexible or durable. It too
can be purchased in stores
or online.
Clay:
A good quality liner
but can be difficult to
install and is more costly.
However, if installed
correctly this is the most
natural option. There are
different types available
which require different
techniques to be installed.