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Some help with my 'wildlife' pond

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  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    What's the underlying (sub-)soil like? If it's very clayey maybe your remanent pond just can't drain into it very quickly. Or maybe the drainage holes are blocked? Have you got a pair of hobnail wellies? ;)

    You could dig a small hole nearby and fill it with water and see how quickly that drains.

    At least you have the reverse of the usual problem - "my pond's leaking, how do I stop it"!
  • OurarkaOurarka Posts: 23
    I think that's it - with my clay soil, and the fact that the pond has been there for so long, the underlying soil is just smooth compacted clay. Any suggestions how I can loosen it up .... bearing in mind it's under 2 foot of muddy soil and a pond liner?!!!
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    I wonder if there's underlay underneath the liner? Maybe you haven't yet pierced that? Jab away with something sharp and see if that helps!

    Funnily enough I'm having the opposite problem. I'd like to make ponds without the expense of butyl liners so I've been digging holes down to what seems a clayey subsoil and letting the rain fill them up in hope of an instant pond. Unfortunately they drain away over a few days once the rain lets up :(
  • OurarkaOurarka Posts: 23
    I don’t think there is underlay - I’m pretty sure I did pierce through when I was making holes. Sounds like you need my clay and I need yours!
  • OurarkaOurarka Posts: 23
    *** correction

    Pretty sure there ISN’T underlay!
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Ourarka said:
    Sounds like you need my clay and I need yours!
    The postage is going to be expensive though ...
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