I believe the history is that there used to be a large dead tree which was had to be dug out (approx 20 years ago). Instead of filling the pond, it was just left as is.
Besides being extremely dangerous? Hard to explain the layout - but it’s near impossible to keep kids out and we’ve had a number of close calls. We’ve friends fences and nets and none give us the sense of security that we need.
I can understand how you feel @SurreyPM27968 ,as it can be very worrying if you have young children, and especially if they have friends coming round etc However, children find ponds fascinating, and often love learning about all the goings on in them, so it might be worth considering making a small pond that you can put a grille across [fixed in place] which can just be a simple frame with chicken wire attached. It will still allow wildlife in to drink and bathe, but will be safe when children are nearby on their own. You can then spend some time with them, watching all that happens in and around it, especially if you can site it near your house. That means some entertainment on wet and wintery days watching from a window. Mine loved seeing the activity, and many of us on the forum have had both ponds and children without any problems, but children do need supervision with ponds, especially when they're young, which can be difficult sometimes too. In the meantime, it's absolutely your decision to make the present area safe, and I'm sorry you've had some negativity. Hopefully, you can have the best of both worlds
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks, I should have mentioned that we will be building a smaller, shallower pond further back in the garden when our youngest child is around 4. We will probably go with a lined pond rather than unlined as it would quickly drain in the summer when the water table drops.
Kids are twice as likely to drown in the bath than in a garden pond and even then the odds are extremely low. Speaking as a parent of two young muddy soggy boys. No judgement though as you have to do what feels safe for your family. I recommend spikey plants and nettles over fences though unless you're willing to go down the electric route
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Never underestimate the danger of a pond, no matter how small or large, shallow or deep. Friends raised 4 children with a pond in the garden. Sadly, the last child fell into the pond playing ball with the dog, resulting in severe brain damage which shortened his life considerably. Small children can drown in water in an upturned dustbin lid, it would be bad enough if it was your own child but if a friend's child was drowned or injured how would we feel? The Royal Life Saving Society recommends "any" water should be netted, fenced or covered when small or young children have access and children should always be supervised when playing near water. Not possible in reality so get rid of it until they are older. The loss of one child would be one too many. A sad hard fact of life. Children love playing in and near water, it fascinates them and is interesting, and hard to resist. Better be safe than sorry.
As its a naturally attenuating pond (albeit as a result of a tree) I would have probably tried to work out a way of draining the depression more effectively prior to backfilling...if possible.
As the pond remains in function (it still attenuates/holds water) then perhaps a bog garden is the most sensible approach. I wouldn't bother laying a lawn there unless you were intending to bund the area?! Perhaps you could build it up slightly above surrounding levels and plant a riparian tree there such as a willow or alder? You'd need to remove the geotextile though.
Hard to give objective advice without pictures, can you post any OP?
Thanks. Here is the pond in question. In terms of trees, there’s a fairly large willow to the right of the pond. I’ve also going to plant another tree (variant is TBC) on the grassed section to the left of the blue spruce.
Posts
However, children find ponds fascinating, and often love learning about all the goings on in them, so it might be worth considering making a small pond that you can put a grille across [fixed in place] which can just be a simple frame with chicken wire attached. It will still allow wildlife in to drink and bathe, but will be safe when children are nearby on their own.
You can then spend some time with them, watching all that happens in and around it, especially if you can site it near your house. That means some entertainment on wet and wintery days watching from a window. Mine loved seeing the activity, and many of us on the forum have had both ponds and children without any problems, but children do need supervision with ponds, especially when they're young, which can be difficult sometimes too.
In the meantime, it's absolutely your decision to make the present area safe, and I'm sorry you've had some negativity. Hopefully, you can have the best of both worlds
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Small children can drown in water in an upturned dustbin lid, it would be bad enough if it was your own child but if a friend's child was drowned or injured how would we feel? The Royal Life Saving Society recommends "any" water should be netted, fenced or covered when small or young children have access and children should always be supervised when playing near water. Not possible in reality so get rid of it until they are older. The loss of one child would be one too many. A sad hard fact of life. Children love playing in and near water, it fascinates them and is interesting, and hard to resist.
Better be safe than sorry.
As the pond remains in function (it still attenuates/holds water) then perhaps a bog garden is the most sensible approach. I wouldn't bother laying a lawn there unless you were intending to bund the area?! Perhaps you could build it up slightly above surrounding levels and plant a riparian tree there such as a willow or alder? You'd need to remove the geotextile though.
Hard to give objective advice without pictures, can you post any OP?