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We have three wildlife ponds at Rosamund: a small one next to the growing beds, and two others near perimeter hedges.
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The largest one was made most recently in the Summer of 2022. One of the reasons for making another pond was that the second largest pond had become infilled with vegetation, particularly iris, and there were no areas of deeper water left within it. This is something that happens naturally with wild ponds.
We did try to remove some of the iris but it was too attached to the liner. Therefore we decided to make a larger pond next door to it, to increase the aquatic environment at the garden. It is great to have a variety of ponds at different stage as this creates the most diverse habitat with niches for different animals and plants.
Building the pond
We used a digger to dig the bulk of the area needed. The pond’s area is 30m squared. We then spent quite a bit of time removing sharp stones (we have a lot of flints here) and shaping the sides to create the shallow gradient preferred by wildlife for entering and leaving the pond.
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Next, we placed soft sand over the bottom, a layer of soft underlay material, and finally the EDPM pond liner. It is really important to avoid any sharp tools or stones etc. around the liner which could puncture it.
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​We used rain water only to fill the pond, as chlorine and added chemicals in tap water could harm sensitive aquatic invertebrates. We collect rain in gutters attached to the polytunnel, which is then collected in a water butt and added to the pond by an underground pipe when a top up is needed.
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Within days we could see whirligigs and pond skaters starting to use the new water.
Habitats
The ponds at Rosamund provide habitat for lots of aquatic invertebrates such as diving beetles, water boatmen, damsel and dragonflies. We also hope to attract frogs and newts. We have seen slowworms and toads using the area too.
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Deadwood piles around the pond provide important invertebrate habitat and hibernaculums for overwintering amphibians and reptiles. Chalkland shrubs – guilder rose, wayfaring tree and spindle – on the adjacent banks provide shade, food and cover for birds and animals using the pond.
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We planted marginal aquatic plants like water forget-me-not, purple loosestrife and meadowsweet around the margins – we used coir pallets and netting to help to establish these. This is biodegradable and will disappear with time. There are also oxygenating and submergent plants like hornwort and water soldier within the pond and several water lily plants.​​
Pests and pollinators
As well as being a pond for wildlife, we hope that amphibians and reptiles that use it will also help us to control our vegetable “pests” organically and naturally, keeping things in balance so that we have a nice harvest.
The pollinators, including the bees that live here will also enjoy the flowers and be attracted to pollinate the crops that are insect pollinated such as squash and cucumber.
The future
In the future we hope to sow some chalkland flowers on one of the drier banks to add to those that have self-seeded and encourage grass snakes to bask on the dry banks. We also hope to monitor the invertebrates with a survey and see how the biodiversity is developing as the pond matures.​​
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Ponds are one of the ways we can contribute to biodiversity and they provide habitat to so many different creatures.
