Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

To reinstate the giant pond or not?

foxandsotfoxandsot Posts: 4
in Problem solving
When we first moved here, this pond was functioning. Found out it has a leak so rehomed fish and it’s been like this ever since. We are trying to tidy up the garden so we actually come out here and use it. 
I do quite like the idea of having fish but Can anyone give us an idea of whether this would be stupidly expensive to fix? It’s 23ft long and has a little pump house with a waterfall.
Or any alternative ideas? Someone did mention bog garden? Not sure what that is or if I like the idea of it 😂
thanks in advance.

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I wouldn't be without a pond, no fish though, a wildlife pond. It all happens in there :)


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The first thing is to see what the damage is and whether or not you can fix it yourself or need to get someone in.  That will depend on whether it's a concrete base, puddled base, pond liner (butyl or plastic sheeting) or pre-formed plastic or fibre glass.

    I would not add fish as they eat frog spawn and other pond life young.    However, if you do want fancy carp you'll need to take measures to protect them from herons and, sometimes, human thieves.

    Bog gardens are very damp garden areas with a special range of plants suited to having constant moisture at their roots and there are some very good plants that will suit a bog and attract wildlife too but water will give you a wider range of both plants and wildlife.

    Plenty of info out there.  I suggest you start by reading this for pond repair - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=955

    and then this - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=447 

    and this on bog gardens - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=356 

    and bog garden plants - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=807


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Without knowing the constructions it's difficult to comment on whether it's practical to repair it.  A liner for a 23 foot long pond isn't going to be cheap.  I disagree with Obelixx about not having fish because they eat frogspawn.  Yes they do, but I had frogs survive every year when we had a pond.  As long as there are areas of planting the fish won't get at all the frogspawn.
    I filled in our pond when we were unable to repair the leaks and even that was a major task.  We removed the liner and underlay, loosened the ground where it had become compacted over the years, chucked in the rocks which had formed the rockery and edged the pond and finally filled with soil which was still there from when the people in the house prior to us constructed the pond.  We left it for a couple of years for the soil to settle and it is now a patio.  It's much more use to us than the pond was.
Sign In or Register to comment.