Even
the smallest of gardens can accommodate a water feature or small
pond which will provide an important habitat for a wide range of
insects, frogs, toads and newts.
Ponds provide birds with
somewhere to drink and bathe, as well as a source of food in the
form of insects and plant life. Even the muddy edges will be used to
provide nesting material for some birds.
Visit
our Aquatic Gardening article
for more details on how to build a pond or water feature.
To ensure your pond is a
safe haven for wildlife just follow the following advise.
New ponds may get
pondweed developing, carefully remove this before it comes too much
of a problem. Lift it out with a rake and leave on the side of the
pond to allow wildlife to climb back into the pond.
In autumn thin out
marginal plants but don't remove more than a third at any one time.
Again, leave on the side of the pond for a day or so before
composting.
If water levels drop
during the summer use rainwater from a water butt to top it up.
Avoid using non-native
species of plants in your pond as they are often more evasive and
can choke out native plants.
For more information on
building a pond to attract birds and other wildlife, here is a
couple of books which you may find of interest.
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