In the pond...

Beyond the Edible Forest Garden lies Boro Doughnut’s allotment, home to strawberries, potatoes, sunflowers, roses, poppies and more. Bees busily investigate every flower, butterflies rest on leaves and the sound of birds rings in your ears.

Tucked away in this allotment, hidden between grasses, rocks and under trees you’ll find life in one of the most important features of the garden- mini ponds. Water trays stacked full of rocks and pebbles, sprouting aquatic grasses and giving shelter to life. 

A labyrinth created just for our wildlife, and the wildlife have embraced it. A watering hole for hedgehogs; a birthing spot for flies; a nursery for larvae and shelter for our insects.

So, how can you make your own mini pond and what can you expect to find inside?

Making the pond:

1. Find a tray, bucket, old sink- something solid and watertight- consider if you can repurpose/reuse anything you have lying around rather than needing to purchase something new

2. Place the pond into an area that gets a nice mix of sun and shade throughout the day

3. Add a layer of sand or gravel inside your pond- this helps to create different texture and some grip for bottom dwelling creatures

4. Fill with pebbles, small stones, logs or bricks to create steps, ledges and ramps for wildlife- a range of different sizes and shapes will create a range of water depths and allow different sized animals access to the pond

5. Add some rocks for hiding and resting places for creatures too- again a range of sizes is good but remember to leave room for just water too

6. Fill with rain water to avoid harmful chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine- the organisms within rainwater will help establish an ecosystem 

7. Add some small aquatic plants to keep the water healthy- miniature waterlily, lesser spearwort, starwort and flowering rush are great options!

8. Enjoy your little wildlife oasis- document what you find/see through pictures, sketches, poetry or video

It may take a few days for your pond to become active. Be patient and keep topping up the water levels if necessary. The first animals to arrive will likely be insects and birds; but soon the insects will recognise your pond as a safe place to lay eggs and then more and more animals will be drawn to the space! Wildlife will come to you, just be patient and kind.

Maintaining Your Mini Pond

So, you’ve made your pond and it looks great- now what? 

Like all things in life, a mini pond needs regular maintenance and care to ensure it remains a healthy and happy habitat for all our wildlife. Here are some top tips on how to keep your pond in tip top condition.

1. Keep your pond topped up with rainwater to maintain water levels, especially in dry weather

2. Avoid cleaning it too much, leaves and algae are part of the ecosystem and will provide nutrients to the water and animals residing there

3. Leave the area around your pond relatively wild growing, to provide natural shelter and space around it

What animals can you expect to find in your mini pond?

Mini ponds can attract a large amount of animals to your garden. This includes:

1. Mayfly, Damselfly and Dragonfly Nymphs – nymphs will spend their time growing up underwater before they emerge from the pond as fully grown adults

2. Midge and Mosquito Larva – larva will also spend time growing under water until they are ready to fly

3. Beetles – carnivorous beetles such as the Great Diving Beetles, Screech Beetles, Whirligig Beetles can all be found in ponds feeding on larva and nymphs

4. Pond Skaters- incredibly easy to recognise, these little insects skate across water feeding on smaller insects

5. Water Snails- these janitorial creatures eat up decaying natural materials such as weeds and algae; you may spot a Ramshorn, Trapdoor or Great Pond Snail

6. Newts, Frogs and Toads- native amphibians and recognised by everyone, these animals are sure to be the main attraction of your pond- plus, frogs and toads will eat up any slugs and other garden pests

7. Spiders – the water spider is the only spider in the world that lives entirely underwater, see if you can attract one to your pond

8. Birds- use the pond as a watering hole and bathtub, blackbirds and other small garden birds are likely to be seen

9. Grass snakes- these highly adapted swimmers are shy creatures but use ponds as a hunting ground for their favourite amphibius snacks

10.  Hedgehogs- a favourite of the nation, Hedgehogs need shallow water sources as they explore their gardens especially during dry and hot weather

    
    

Water is an integral part of life for all beings, no matter how big or small. Ponds are vital for maintaining biodiverse environments and mini ponds are just as important as large ones!

Most insects that live in ponds breathe air and travel between ponds; this is due to ponds being low in dissolved oxygen so it is difficult to have insects permanently residing there full time. However, many animals thrive during their larval stages in ponds such as the predatorial damselfly and dragonfly; as well as toads, frogs and newts. As the amphibious animals grow older, they begin to use the ponds as feeding grounds, a breeding ground and a place to lay eggs- passing on their lifecycle to a new generation. 

Ponds aren’t just homes for insects though. They provide watering spots for hedgehogs, badgers and foxes; are a fresh food spot for bats and a bathing place for birds.

Ponds have drastically decreased in numbers over recent years, and this is particularly dangerous for these animals listed. A lot of ponds are contaminated with harmful chemicals that have run off of fields meaning that many habitats are being destroyed or damaged. Due to land being consistently developed and converted for agriculture or housing, the loss of these habitats continues. Many creatures rely on freshwater ponds, and simply cannot survive without them so every mini pond created provides something special for the animals. Without ponds to live, breed and feed from- there is no way to maintain life.

A mini pond does not have to be expensive or large. Any watertight container will create a successful habitat in your garden. Every pond created is a refuge for insects, amphibians and mammals- proving that even the smallest spaces make a huge difference.

References and Further Reading:

Earth Watch Europe. “Make a mini pond”  https://earthwatch.org.uk/resources/make-a-mini-pond/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22614428549&gbraid=0AAAAADPgRjFfdC2kNXzS1dQnK1fxdTmBC&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7LSBhB3EiwAjcodxIKn1BwzB9f4Ee0zIbFzVu3s8ffChJ80retJ1k2dsV-9ajR3UjlCFhoCi7oQAvD_BwE 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust. “How to create a mini pond” https://www.nwt.org.uk/actions/how-create-mini-pond?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=8682033052&gbraid=0AAAAADxPBj-5SRJ1Moeu7FuUclPeQ9zao&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7LSBhB3EiwAjcodxAitmZV-Cb_wAS-ZBUi4K3SLa8SfM768Ub7xL4DOYLSax79XLSScPRoCcd0QAvD_BwE 

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust “Pond Life Identification Chart” https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-11/Pond%20ID%20Chart.pdf 

Sylvia Myers and Lisa Hendry. “Pond life: facts about pond habitats, plants and animals” Natural History Museum https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/pond-life-facts-about-habitats-plants-animals.html