Green Pond Liners?? (not the colour...)

[Jez]

Hi folks, first time on here for me. I'm curious about the most environmental way to build a pond. My the very nature of the demand the liner seems to be constructed so it won't break down. I don't have too much of an issue with this in a domestic environment (where the wildlife benefits out way the drawbacks) but here's the issue:

I will (fingers crossed!) be acquiring some woodland. It's not too big just for me to own a little slice of countryside. There is a banked ditch which has the potential to be wildlife pond. There are drainage ditches which feed into the a small stream at the bottom of the wood which might be able to slowly fill the pond up (no access to taps in the wood..!). I am wondering what would be the most environmentally conscious way to create the pond itself. I assume clay but is there anything easier yet still being as green as I can? I don't like the thought of burying something in the woodland yet it would be nice to create a little wildlife pond. I think the deer would enjoy a permanent drinking hole too! Are there any other issues about a pond in a natural rather than domestic setting that I need to consider?

[Jez]

[ACE]

You can't have it all ways, if you need to interfere with the habitat that is already there, you will have to do it with a lot of hard work and clay. I expect the bottom of the ditch is already home to thousands of insects, toads and newts. It also has its own micro system of plants, some of which may not even be visible.

Anyway dig it all out to make room for the 12" of clay you will need as a liner. d**n the ends up to stop the water draining elsewhere, which will also alter another habitat further down the line.  Then you can have your pond to look at.

Not the nicest of welcomes I know, but that is what could happen. Your best bet is to get one of the countryside rangers to see if you can do it without upsetting the other wildlife. 
     
                                                              Good luck

[Sinbad7]

Hi Jez,

Welcome to the site.

Reading your post I thought you sounded a bit of a contradiction as you sound a very green person and I would have thought if there was meant to be a pond on your slice of heaven then it would be there naturally and man wouldn't have to have a hand in it at all.

But as I am mad about ponds and if I wanted one then I would give it my best shot with constructed pond liner.  Surely though you would have to get your water from somewhere to start it off, then let nature take it's course.

Enjoy your slice of countryside, it must be heaven.

Sinbad

[Jez]

You can't have it all ways, if you need to interfere with the habitat that is already there, you will have to do it with a lot of hard work and clay. I expect the bottom of the ditch is already home to thousands of insects, toads and newts. It also has its own micro system of plants, some of which may not even be visible.

True enough. I have already thought about this dilemma too and I won 't be disturbing anything already there until it's been looked at more closely as I am aware of the micro system that might already exist but I didn't want to ramble on in the post.

I guess I'm still day dreaming about possibilities at the moment. Nothing wrong in trying to at least do any human intervention as sensitively as I can but ultimately it's still human intervention. The wood itself is not natural woodland but was planted for timber although nature has happily moved in which is nice to see. I just want to think the issue through thoroughly so I don't mind advice that appear to be criticizing. There's no point me asking if I won't listen to contrary advice...!

[ACE]

Nice one. There are various organisations that can point you in the right direction. Most of them do it for free. You would have to google them. Also look in your local library for any nature clubs or societies that will know the right people to approach. We have professor that does it for our council.

Just be care ful how you google nature. 'naturalists' give you quite spectacular results ;D