Dorset Wildlife Trust

Living Gardens : Gardening Action for Wildlife

Watery Wonderland

No.3 in a series of eight leaflets (1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.)

Who can resist relaxing beside water on a hot summer's day, or watching a bird take a quick drink in winter? There are nearly 2 million garden ponds in Britain, and this number is constantly on the increase, making us one of the most enthusiastic nations for this wonderful, watery garden feature. You can have a front seat at a frog's chorus, or be entertained by the damselflies' elegant, aerial mating dance. The choice is yours! Read on for some wonderful, watery magic.

A guide to creating ponds and bogs in your own garden.

Despite our apparent love of water, the number of natural ponds in the countryside is decreasing. Many of those that remain are greatly affected by modern agricultural practices such as the use of pesticides, draining of wetlands and filling of ponds.

As an owner of a small but thriving urban pond you are contributing immensely to the

ability of nature to survive this concrete jungle we call home! 9,000 natural ponds are lost each year - lets see if we can offset this by creating a watery network here in south-eastern Dorset!

FIVE good reasons for a watery wonderland

(just in case we haven't convinced you yet...)

1. Improve your garden - many beautiful plants grow in water or wet conditions. Ponds even look good in winter. A healthy wellbalanced pond is an easily maintained habitat.
2. If you want to do one thing for wildlife, creating a wildlife pond is probably the best way to increase the biodiversity (number of species) of your garden.
3. Natural pest control force - many pond creatures eat garden pests. Frogs find a juicy slug irresistible, while dragonflies have an insatiable appetite for midges.
4. Pull a bird! - animals will flock to drink and bathe in your thriving wildlife habitat - you may even glimpse a bat if you're lucky.
5. Save money! Who doesn't love a bargain? Making, stocking and tending a pond costs less time, effort and less of your hardearned money than lawns and bedding schemes.

A cautionary note for garden ponds in towns

Avoid moving frogspawn and other pond life around as you may inadvertently transfer a disease or invasive species. If your frogs are becoming inbred due to isolation of the pond, seek advice for a safe source of frogspawn. Moving certain species (e.g. great crested newts) requires a license and releasing animals onto nature reserves can result in a fine. NEVER release a non-native animal into a pond - seek specialist advice if you are unsure. You may be contributing to the destruction of our native flora and fauna. If unsure please contact an expert for advice.

POND BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS . . . TOP TIPS FOR A THRIVING POND

Recommended reading and support

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