There is something appealing about water to us all – whether it is a large stretch of water or smaller water features in gardens and local green spaces. Maybe this is because it’s closely linked to our health, wellbeing and survival? Ponds and water are a focal point in most outdoor spaces, an attractive and beneficial feature that has the gift of life and will quickly become home for many different species of wildlife.

Adding a pond is one of the best things you can do to attract wildlife in your garden or outdoor space, even a small pond can support dragonflies, newts and frogs. They also become a feeding ground for birds, bats, hedgehogs - who are amazing pest controllers! Water also helps bigger mammals such as badgers and foxes.

But if you don’t have space for a pond, adding bird baths, buckets and containers can bring so much life to your space. You can also start with a mini pond…

Mini ponds are great!

Your outdoor space will benefit from a pond of any size - a washing up bowl, an old sink or a large plant pot would do the trick. Tom in BS3 started with a mini pond and never looked back!

Recommended pond plants for a mini pond include purple loosestrife, water mint and marsh marigold.

Creating a pond

Here are some tips from people in Bristol and Avon who have created larger ponds at home or in the community:

1. If you are worried about smaller people or pets, consider covering your pond with a wire grid that also allows frogs in and out, or if it is larger, a fence to surround it. Avoid netting as animals might get caught.

2. Avoid sharing water between ponds, as this can transfer disease or invasive species.

3. It’s best not to add fish to your pond as they can pollute the water and eat the other plant and animals.

4. You can start your pond at any time of the year, but autumn and winter are best to see a flurry of activity in spring.

5. A 2m x 2m and 60cm deep garden pond is perfect for overwintering frogs. A mini pond 20-30cm-deep will also be valuable for wildlife.

6. Adding lavender or barley straw to your pond in spring can help keep it free of algae and blanketweed. Remove the straw at the end of the season to avoid it rotting.

7. Tom Wilmott in BS3 cleverly added an old apple tree branch over his pond, which is used as a perch by dragonflies.

Pond maintenance

Now is a great time of year to create or maintain a pond, as it minimises disturbances to wildlife.

Autumn: If you need to carry out any maintenance work, such as removing silt, do it now while the pond is less active. Plants will also die back at this time. Allow the pond enough light by removing excess fallen leaves and cutting back overhanging branches.

Winter: Freezing over is normal and unlikely to reduce oxygen levels too much in a healthy pond. A mini pond could be insulated with bubble wrap, kept close to the house, or sunk into the ground to help prevent it freezing. If your pond is the only drinking source for wildlife then leave a ball in the water to keep an ice free section near the edge.

Learn more about mini ponds, pond maintenance and visit Grow Wilder wildflower nursery for their excellent pond plants section.

Team Wilder: Ponds   Order your plants today