Natural Ponds Can Attract Wildlife To Your Garden
A natural pond is a hive of activity. All sorts of animals such frogs, pond skaters, dragonflies, turtles, even the odd fox will pay a visit. These ponds are very important for the conservation of wildlife, animal and plant. As these wild oasis disappear, and they are going at a very fast rate, the plants and animals disappear too. Animals travel to man made watering holes that may be dangerous for them.
These watering holes may be sewage ditches or chemical dumps. The animals drink from these contaminated sources and end up poisoned. There are also 1000's of pond life killed instantly when their pond is filled in to make way for a new road or building because its "uneconomical" to go round the pond or build a bridge over it.
Pond keepers have discovered that this shortage has increased the amount of wildlife that visit their ponds and many have adapted old ponds or built new ones to mimic a natural pond to encourage the wildlife even more. These mini eco systems have proved a hit not only with the wildlife but with the pond keepers as well. They provide lots of interest and bring tranquility to a garden.
The Designing And Maintaining
Natural ponds should be as large as you can possibly make them but no matter what size, they are still very valuable to wildlife. There should be a good mixture of both shade and light and the sides should have gently sloping shelves to provide different depths. Natural ponds should be irregular in shape and look as if they have been there since time began. Your pond liner should be protected with two layers of sand, put one layer in the hole before laying the liner and then another layer on top of the liner. Water straight from the tap can be used to fill your natural pond. Plants will quickly start to fill your pond so you should remove any excess weeds, leaving about 70% of the pond clear.
You wil have to clean the pond occasionally by removing weeds, unwanted plants and any leaves that have found there way in. Don't do any weeding in the first few months of the year as this is breeding time for invertebrates and amphibians and there eggs will be on the weeds. Its good practice when removing plants and leaves to leave them by the pond for a while so that any small pond life that you have inadvertently plucked from home can make their way back to sanctuary.
When you choose plants for your pond, stick with types that are naturally from your area. The wildlife will be much happier with surroundings they know and you will be much happier because the plants are much less likely to die. Resist any temptation when at the garden center to purchase any type of ornament for your pond. Remember your goal, it should look like it has been there long before you arrived. Natural ponds will bring you enjoyment like no other pond. The fact you have been environmentally responsible is just an added bonus!
Kipp Flynn has been designing ponds all his life. He was using terms like environmental way before they became fashionable. Click to learn more about natural ponds or here for general build a pond advice
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