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Building a wildlife pond

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  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    I now have an overflow but only because I have to. Mine is a natural pond and I live in a bog so I put in an overflow to keep the surrounding area (a bit) drier or should I say less flooded? It was relatively simple here as I let it trickle into the sheugh about 60ft away. If I had a "normal" garden I'm not sure how I would do it. How much does it rain in Suffolk? Is it likely to be a problem? 
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    Well ordinarily I’d say it hardly rains at all, but this year I’d say it rains about 18 inches a day! My feeling was to not bother and just have the lowest point into the earth bank at the back. Wasn’t sure if I was being a bit too cavalier with that though and I’d need to have an actual soakaway plan for heavy rain 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2018
    Ours doesn't seem to need one ... it's evaporation that's the problem here as the pond is on the wide/shallow side ... that's why we've decided to enlarge it and hopefully dig it a bit deeper ... if we can find a spot free from big tree roots.  Love the big ash tree in the corner, but its roots are huuuuuuuuuuuuge!  :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    http://www.fermanaghlakelands.com/
    We tried to walk round the Castle two Saturdays ago but the path was under water!!  :s
    You could always have a little pump on stand-by. L**l sometimes do them cheap in the "stuff" aisle.   
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    edited April 2018
    That looks a lovely spot pauper. A wet path round a castle... are you sure it wasn’t a moat?  :)

    Think I’ll see how it goes and deal
    with it if a problem arises. It’s pretty dry usually there so any excess water is probably a good thing. 

    Know what you mean Dove, we have a huge ash as well. I just let the grass grow around it and plenty of spring bulbs. Not much chance of growing anything under it in summer. It’s got dieback unfortunately, but will hopefully have a good few years left in it 
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    Latest progress report... most of the edges done now. Very much a trial and error process. Was concerned that there would be lots of wicking but it doesn’t seem to be an issue so far.

    It all looks pretty messy at the moment with mud everywhere.
    The turves are all cut from various spots around the garden, and should hopefully soon grow and give a nice soft edge. Not too worried about the actual grass growing that well as it’s mainly the root structure that I’m hoping will hold until the marginals I’ll be planting in them get going


  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
     The Castle's on an Island...no moat required.
    That's looking great Lee. It'll naturalise in no time.
    Not sure about that bridge though.....!  
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    you know what that needs don't you? ......
    HOSTAS.  :D
    Devon.
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    Pauper - Im using the bridge for health reasons. If I can't successfully cross it then I have to diet with immediate effect. (Some sleepers going in there when they arrive)

    Hostafan - good plan! Ive only ever grown one particularly sorry looking specimen before, all our shady areas are way too dry so never bothered trying again. Should be ok here now the big tree has gone though, any recommendations? 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Lee17 said:


    Hostafan - good plan! Ive only ever grown one particularly sorry looking specimen before, all our shady areas are way too dry so never bothered trying again. Should be ok here now the big tree has gone though, any recommendations? 
    Coo, where to start? I'd go for some big meaty varieties like Sum and Subtance or Blue Angel up at the back to give more shelter and cover for wildlife towards the hedge at the back.
    Devon.
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