I'm feeling quite sad

[Deleted]

We thought we would never move house again - so a pond was built



The house was brand new when we moved in 4 years ago - the garden was a blank canvas - so as you can imagine we have put in a lot of hard work.
But we are on the move again - I will miss my pond and fish, and water gardening
If our new house doesn't have a pond I suppose we will have to start digging ;D

[Rosefriend]

Hi Rita

Wow - that looks fantastic - I won't even ask why you have to move. I'd be in tears too.

However look on the bright side - maybe you can make it even better - although how is beyond me. Mind you I think that it could be a challenge

Rosefriend

[Margi]

Rita

Are you the same Rita who gave me advice on teeny tiny little waterlilies on the Beeb in the spring???

If so, can I just butt in to say thank you - I got one (Helvola?) and have had so much enjoyment from it during the summer - it's had probably seven or eight flowers all of which have been just lovely!

Even after just a tiny bit of water gardening experience, I can imagine how much you're going to miss that BEAUTIFUL pond - you have my sympathies...

Margi x

[Deleted]

Yes Margi it's me - hello
Your water lily had done well I'm please to hear

When and if I have another pond, I won't be making the same mistakes - the 3 smaller ponds don't have any fish in them, they are between 12 - 15" deep which means most of the plants in them have to sit on bricks I would have them shallower next time - just to mention one small change

This photo was taken just after it was completed.

[rhodadendron]

Thats a fab pond Rita - a lovely area to sit by. I've never had to leave a garden that I've created or nurtured. It must be really difficult That having been said I do feel I need a new challenge garden-wise.

Rhoda

[Deleted]

Why not have a pond then Rhoda Denron - water gardening is wonderful - I really enjoy it, you don't have to include fish. In fact Koi and Grass carp will eat many aquatic plants unfortunately - common goldfish and orfe don't cause too much trouble though

[sweetleaf]

Rita, I wish I could buy your house, sight unseen, just so I could have your ponds, they are truly wonderful! Mine has given me many hours of enjoyment and will improve as time goes on Im sure but yours ...well no wonder you`re broken hearted

[jlottie]

Rita, I can see why you are so sad, what a lovely pond. I hope you will have lots of enthusiasm for a new pond when you find your next garden.

[isabella]

Rita I love your pond!

[Deleted]

I only wish there was a pond removal company

I hope who ever buys our house will be honest and let me know if they don't want the pond, as I would prefer to re-home the fish and plants myself. I wouldn't have to buy a new pump or filter for my next pond either.

After removing the contents of the pond, we would cut out the liner and fill the holes with soil to make a raised border.

[Deleted]

Beautiful pond Rita. A pond is my next but one project.

[Deleted]

What's your next project Dee?

[Deleted]

A new shade bed about 90' long , just got to get up the courage to start removing all the turf'

[Deleted]

Oh Rita, how sad It's lovely.
But as you say, in the next place, you will be able to improve on what you have. I can only sympathise because ours is on the market too and we spent absolutely ages building the hobbit hole, making beds etc (hate to even guess how much time and money we spent). I've learned loads, though.
One viewer had obviously been primed by the agent that I was proud of the garden and gushed as soon as they arrived but then didn't mention it again and didn't even walk up to the end of the back garden to look around - so NOT a gardener or potential one then!

[Deleted]

The thought of a non-gardener buying our house gives me the shivers Daisy Chain

Do you fancy a house swap lol ;D

[Deleted]

Rita,that's a magnificent pond.No wonder you feel sad.I'm sure the best therapy will be your next garden...

[Deleted]

Thanks - I really hope that who ever buys our house wants the pond too, otherwise the fish we have to be re-homed along with the plants, and I will have to fill it all in and call it a raised garden instead

[Deleted]

Amazing garden Rita,

You are certainly blessed with a good eye and green fingers

[madonplants]

Just been going around the boards and found this. That is a great pond, Rita. When do you move and where to? I know how it feels to move house, I have done it plenty of times. I never seem to finish the garden's five year plan. My wife, who is the wage earner, has been unlucky with being made redundant several times. Could you move the fish with you and house them in a temporary container or pond? I am sure who buys your house will want the fish/pond if you left them. I do have bad memeories of two moves, so I know what you could be going through. I have always built wildlife ponds and in two of the moves, the new occupiers have stuck a garden fork through the liner on the day they moved in. I found this out by our neighbours. One of them, even my neighbour was upset, as she phoned a few days later. She said, you know your lovely pond, well they have just spiked it with a garden fork and all the water has gone and the frogs and newts don't know where to go. There excuse was they have a baby! So did we and they (we now have 2 kids, one 11 and one 5)have been brought up to respect water. My neighbour was so upset that she built a pond fairly soon afterwards to try and save them. I still can't believe she did that. The other one had even asked about it and i told them that if they don't want it a neighbour has agreed to help dismantle it and take the wildlife to their pond. They did not take up the great offer. I also remember when we moved here, we had to chose between here or Southern Ireland! My wife had a chance of two positions. I asked Defra about our pets to be told, our dog , large redtailed catfish and comets were OK, but our golden orfe, Lucky (too long to explain) would not be able to go. I can't say that was what made our mind up, but it came close. Silly really isn't it, but if they could have gone, we would have found some way of getting them there. The house we moved in did not have a pond so my first job was to build one. While I was digging it out the fish were kept in la arge plastic container with bubble filter in the kitchen. They all survived and have now nearly doubled their size. We only moved in April! Anyway hope this helps.

Keep your chin up
Keith

[Deleted]

Oh dear Keith how sad to hear that your pond was spiked then filled in
I just hope that anyone wanting to buy our house is honest when I ask them if they want to keep the pond - I would hate to think the same thing might happen to my pond
We will be moving about 50 miles from here, to just south of Lincoln - if only there was a pond removal company

[sleepysunday]

When I moved Hiltler from North Wales to Brum I got the removal men to take the wooden double compost bin I had madfe a couple of years previously. They were not pleased. I had emptied it and brushed it down first.

[madonplants]

How many fish do you have, what are they and how big are they? I can't believe that would happen to a fish pond with fish in it. Mine just had frogs, newts (yes I had both) and I think at the time tadpoles. In the first one, the one where our neighbour built her own pond to help, still can't believe that, also had a huge toad, so no slug problem. I think whoever buys it will want to keep the pond. It isn't like my old ones in that they can't use the excuse, which I hate, that they have a young family and a pond is dangerous. A young child would struggle to get into your one. Would you consider taking your fish with you? I only ask as, if it would help, we could have some in our pond as we live not far from Lincoln in St Neots. We may also have a large fishtank that we could house some in. That is when we get the next one for T.C. our Redtailed Catfish. My wife ocassionally goes there on business. Have you found the new house yet? If not are you looking for one that has a pond in it? Or would you rather build your own? Anyway just a thought. Do you have favourites in your pond or are they all special?

Keith

P.s. We have just come back from a boating holiday on the Broads so I expect you will miss the place as well as your garden.

[Deleted]

My pond usually looks like this - we take the mesh off if we have people round for a BBQ or drinks
The main reason I keep it covered is to stop the heron dining!



There are a few sticklebacks, about 40 18 month old gold fish and my favourites 3 golden orfe. The orfe have been in the pond since it was finished.

We are hoping to buy a friends house, (they are moving down south). Their garden needs loads of work doing to it, apart from his small veggie patch there are no flowers or shrubs and no pond. Building a pond would be quite low on our list of priorities, unfortunately, as the house could do with a new kitchen and new windows! But I certainly would like another pond sooner rather than later.

There are quite a few pond owners in the village we are living in at the moment so I am sure I will be able to re-home my fish if needs be - one friend has more of a lake than a pond in his garden, lucky chap! I just hope that if I do need to move them it isn't when the weather is very cold.

BTW thanks for your offer Keith

[madonplants]

I don't mean to re home them, just to look after, until you are settled in your new house and built a new pond. Anyway, sorry if I did not make sense before. Offer is still there if need be.

Keith