Produce > Wildlife forum
Wildlife pond
davholla:
The pond is 1.72m long, 1.2 m wide and .69 m deep.
The surface area is 2 m squared (probably a bit less as it is not a rectangle).
Is this big enough? This is scenario A
Width wise I have 1.93 meters to the raspberry bed (so can only add 30 cm that way).
Lengthwise I have 0.6 m to the first branches of the apple tree and 1m to the gooseberries so I only have .3m each way.
So the maximum I could have is 2.32 by 1.5 giving 3.48 ms squared, scenario B
However I think that is too big - and I am fed up with digging and mess. I could add a shallow shelf 10 cm to the width and 10 cm to back. Or maybe slightly less this is scenario C
A) Is ok now or would scenario C be a lot better?
I attach a photo, this will only have wildlife and is in South London
Pond IMG_0292 by davholla2002, on Flickr
Obelixx:
I'd go a bit deeper if you can as in the depths of winter cold, water temperatures are only stable at 60cms and more. By the time you've lined that with sand or stone proof protector fibre to protect the butyl or plastic liner you have almost no safe depth left. It's important for hibernating underwater critters in their larval stage.
Otherwise the size is fine but if you intend to grow marginal plants in baskets (easier to control and prevent invasions) you'll need a shelf around some or all of the sides.
davholla:
--- Quote from: Obelixx on February 06, 2018, 13:22:48 ---I'd go a bit deeper if you can as in the depths of winter cold, water temperatures are only stable at 60cms and more. By the time you've lined that with sand or stone proof protector fibre to protect the butyl or plastic liner you have almost no safe depth left. It's important for hibernating underwater critters in their larval stage.
Otherwise the size is fine but if you intend to grow marginal plants in baskets (easier to control and prevent invasions) you'll need a shelf around some or all of the sides.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for that, I will have to do some more digging. I hope it stays dry for a few more weekends.
PondDragon:
--- Quote from: Obelixx on February 06, 2018, 13:22:48 ---I'd go a bit deeper if you can as in the depths of winter cold, water temperatures are only stable at 60cms and more.
--- End quote ---
Ignore this advice - it's completely unnecessary. It's London, not a Scottish mountaintop. 30 or 40 cm depth would be fine. Maximising the surface area is more important than depth (indeed, deeper is not better when it comes to ponds). Native aquatic insects are perfectly well able to cope with winter cold.
davholla:
--- Quote from: PondDragon on February 07, 2018, 21:12:26 ---
--- Quote from: Obelixx on February 06, 2018, 13:22:48 ---I'd go a bit deeper if you can as in the depths of winter cold, water temperatures are only stable at 60cms and more.
--- End quote ---
Ignore this advice - it's completely unnecessary. It's London, not a Scottish mountaintop. 30 or 40 cm depth would be fine. Maximising the surface area is more important than depth (indeed, deeper is not better when it comes to ponds). Native aquatic insects are perfectly well able to cope with winter cold.
--- End quote ---
That is what I thought, although everyone else has said something like that as well (including people living in London).
Sadly I have not got much more space, I can add enough 30 cm to one side for a shallow shelf.
I am quite anxious about this because I used to have a pond that I loved with dragonfly nymphs etc, then 5 years ago an idiot persuaded my wife that he was trained in gardening and moved it, it leaked, it was in shade and never recovered from the leak. I am really hoping that I can have another pond which is good.
Are you sure? I
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