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Post by dirtyboots on Dec 10, 2006 16:23:36 GMT
Hi All, ;D Thanks for the warm welcome! We are starting a pond in the field behind the house,not had a wildlife pond before so I would very much like any hints or tips of do's and dont's I will post some pics asap. (the signal is keep dropping out today)  Those of you who go to the other place may have seen them already DB |
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Post by Dutchy on Dec 10, 2006 16:35:52 GMT
Hi Dirtyboots welcome.
I am not much of an expert but my little pond is very much in use by wildlife.
They want a place where they can crawl out. Hedgehogs are not that smart and sometimes drop in. Low gently sloping sides therefore.
The amphibians love a bit of swamp so do try a bit of that.
Depending on your soil it is something to think ahaid about your lining. You might have to wade in. You need a pond lining that can take that. Esp. on free draining sandy soil or you will be looking at an empty pond. Fish are something to think about. Newts prefer ponds without fish. Frogs too are happy when their eggs are not gobled away by fish. There are some native fish that will do but you will hardly see them.
Some reed like plants in the water give good landing space for dragonflies and a plce from where to lay their eggs.
Waterlillys for your pleasure and the frogs.
Just go for it.
Dutchy
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Post by dirtyboots on Dec 10, 2006 19:29:45 GMT
Hi Duchy, The pond is waiting for the lining at the moment, We are having a natural one, that is to say a clay lining.We are in France and the clay is just waiting for us and the weather!! The hole is about 200m² so it's too big for a butyl will keep you posted DB  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2006 20:23:52 GMT
How deep will it be? |
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 14:35:11 GMT
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 14:41:31 GMT
Oh good ,it worked !! Sorry it took so long for me to get back,still better late than never. The pond should be just over 1m in depth,we are having doubts about the quality of the clay we have been offered and might have to end up buying a liner! Will try to keep posting ;D |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 8, 2007 14:51:48 GMT
Do they even make liners that big Dirtyboots?
Its ENORMOUS!
It looks fabulous by the way, I cant wait to see what it ends up looking like, its such a nice shape. ;D
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 8, 2007 15:13:37 GMT
You can join liners together, but it's a bit risky. A pond that size is usually lined with a synthetic clay called bentonite.
I would consider taking out another 1/2 metre for the bentonite, and a further 1 metre in the middle for wildlife to hibernate at a greater depth.
Looks brilliant though.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2007 15:16:50 GMT
OMG  Thats not a pond, its a lake!!!!!! |
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Post by Spruance on Jan 8, 2007 15:19:58 GMT
The dimensions of your pond are not unlike the one that the Gardener's World Team built at Berryfields.
They have since had problems with the clay liner cracking, so perhaps a clay and butyl approach might be the answer.
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 15:27:07 GMT
Thanks folks, the photo was taken before weeds started growing in it! I have been looking at the price of liners for that size, it works out at about 1100 pounds Do you know anything about bentonite clay Sleepy Sunday? We are going to make it deeper when the digger comes. |
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Post by Spruance on Jan 8, 2007 15:48:01 GMT
I realise that you are in France DB, but have a look at this Steetley Minerals link which explains the benefits of using Bentonite as a lining material.  |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 8, 2007 15:57:27 GMT
I used to sell bentonite DB. As far as I know it is only sold as pellets (I may be wrong). The pellets expand many fold when soaked in water. For a pond the saturated betonite needs to be 'puddled' into place. That's the extent of my knowledge I'm afraid. This site might be useful: www.derbyshire-dragonflies.org.uk/create.php |
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 16:36:22 GMT
Thank you once again Spruance and Sleepy Sunday, will look into it
DB
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 8, 2007 16:42:00 GMT
If you do use bentonite you will need to make those sides a much shallower gradient. 1 in 3
And when it's all finished and established can we all come and watch the kingfishers in action over tea and scones?
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 8, 2007 16:47:12 GMT
Not that one gets kingfishers tucking into tea and scones very often ;D
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 16:54:41 GMT
Of course you can SleepySunday ;D; I think it will be herons and not kingfishers though, we have herons nesting at the end of the lane  DB |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 8, 2007 16:59:12 GMT
WOW DB that is some pond, a lake even. What a fab project. With something that size I guess cost is going to be pretty major and if a jobs worht doing it's worth doing well. Years ago when my Great Uncle was alive he dug out what was a very very small pond he had up the fields and made it into a area of about the size as yours and half as much again. As far as I can remember it was just dug out and left natural so to speak. There was obviously a natural source of water and the only time it got low was in extremely hot weather. He had fish put in it and had a small island in the middle with a bridge to get over to the island. There was a path laid all the way round it and it was planted with shrubs and small trees. He bought some Black Swans to put on it and they eventually produced, it was a haven for wildlife, wild ducks and all manner of other birds made themselves very much at home. I often wonder what it's like now. Good luck with yours and do keep us posted on progress |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 8, 2007 17:03:27 GMT
You will need to populate it with fish then, or the herons won't be interested.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2007 17:04:58 GMT
black swans, they sound beautiful and dreamy
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Post by Plocket on Jan 8, 2007 17:07:41 GMT
Gordon Bennett Dirtyboots that is VAST!!!! I can't wait to see the next piccies but I have a feeling they might be a while coming |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2007 17:17:22 GMT
Amazing DB - I'm stuck for words - I bet it will take a while to fill with water, when the time comes that is |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 8, 2007 17:21:38 GMT
It makes my little water garden look like a drop in the ocean - literally!!! ;D
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Jan 8, 2007 17:41:10 GMT
Crikey  ...........you could get the Royal Naval Fleet on that . I bet it'll be absolutely fantastic when it's finished. Good luck and keep us posted. S x |
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Post by dirtyboots on Jan 8, 2007 20:33:17 GMT
Oh I love the sound of your Great Uncles pond Chuckles, would love to see it. I will be happy with natural wildlife Susie, if the naval fleet were about I'm sure to be sea sick  We will fill the pond with water from all of the barn roofs (when the time comes) Our neighbours down the lane are close to the stream and have no trouble in filling their ponds, only trouble they have is with the herons after the fish ;D Still working on the OG(stands for old goat) to have an island in the middle, and a stream!! Will keep you posted DB |
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 6, 2007 9:55:05 GMT
Hi DB how's the pond lake going ;D. I wish I had some photo's of Uncs pond to show you it was fab. Anyway how are you getting on with yours, has the weather been good enough to carry on with some work |
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Post by dirtyboots on Feb 6, 2007 10:06:28 GMT
Hi Chuckles,
Talk about pond/lake in this house and the OG goes quiet!
After lots of testing clay and measuring up we are going for a liner. It will cost a lot but I think its the best way forward.
The OG is outside now measuring up AGAIN!, still we must get it right eh.
The weather has been wet and cold with 9" of snow 2 weeks ago, more forcast for this weekend.
We will have to have a liner party to lay it,it's going to very heavy. Must get lots of beer in stock
;D
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 6, 2007 10:17:14 GMT
Be on the next flight over ;D I'll do my fair share of graft especially if theres a party too. It will be heavy and hard work setting a liner up and getting it level etc but at least you'll be sure of water tightness. Do keep us posted on how it's going |
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Post by blackrose on Feb 6, 2007 17:59:52 GMT
I'll join in too DB I did my own in 4 hours, tough mine would sit on the shelf of yours ;D I wish I had the ground to be as adventurous as you have been. Be fun filling it if the beers on the go.
Paul
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2007 10:58:05 GMT
;DI've got a tiny wildlife pond that I put a net over in Autumn to stop most of the leaves falling in and rotting on the bottom. Would you have to take the leaves out in a pond that size? Or would nature just take care of it? I leave a few of the leaves on the bottom as the frogs snooze the winter away under them.
What a beautiful pond that is going to be db. Or failing that it would make a nice racetrack it's so huge. ;D
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