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Inherited this pond - help!
haley5909
Posts: 12
im a novice gardener and really don't know where to start with this pond. 
There are lots of frogs living there. I'm not aware of what else is living in there as we've just acquired it. I don't want to disturb anything but also realise that it's not looking too healthy. We also have a dog who will invariably end up in there If we don't fence it soon.
It's in south west France so very sunny most of the year. Any advice welcome!
Many thanks in advance
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Thanks so much for your reply. I would not want to harm any wildlife at all. I'm simply ignorant when it comes to this, which is why I'm asking for advice.
From my very limited internet searching it seems many people want to clean their ponds and algae bloom was a bad thing, so assumed this was what I should do. I was a little worried about stagnation and Mosquitos and algae harming my dog if he swallows it etc but again, totally ignorant about that too.
I'd be very happy to leave it. In fact i'd prefer to!
thanks for your advice.
PS I meant if my dog 'accidentally' swallows the water Obviously I will do my very best to keep him out of the pond. (and as I said might have to fence it off - we also have youngish children)
Ah that makes sense about the algae. We live in London and all the ponds and lakes seem to have blue green algae and signs saying it's dangerous for dogs.
Duckweed. I really need to do my homework! I can imagine the readers on here rolling their eyes!
many thanks again! Super advice ?
He's a small mix breed (with the spirit of a spaniel and the body of a daschund - I've been fishing him out of water since he was a pup). Will get the fencing sorted and leave the frogs and others to live in peace.
thank you ?
Great looking pond and an excellent addition to the garden. I don't know about ecology and biodiversity in SW France but it looks like too much algae on the surface....maybe skim it off. Maybe you should seek local advice.
Thanks Redwing ?
I agree with Pansyface. To me it looks like duckweed, not algae.
Doesn't look the best pond - rather shaded, probably quite steep-sided and possibly quite deep. Plus covered in duckweed and quite likely with a great deal of accumulated sludge at the bottom. Has potential though - is this a house you're going to be living in for several years?
It could attract quite a lot of wildlife e.g. Marbled Newt, Great Crested Newt (probably out of range for this), Palmate Newt, Marsh Frog (large frogs with a stripe down the back), Common Frog, Western Common Toad (Bufo spinosus).
Also snakes such as Grass Snake and Viperine Snake (both harmless).
Thanks for your advice. Yes we plan on keeping the house for our lifetime and passing on to our children if possible too.
Our main aim is to maintain the wildlife and keep the pond as healthy an ecosystem as possible. However, as you can no doubt tell, my knowledge is extremely limited!
thank you ?