HOW TO HELP WILDLIFE
Your step-by-step guide to making a miniature pond.
This summer is the perfect time to create your own garden pond. Not only do ponds provide safe places for breeding amphibians like toads and frogs, but they are feeding grounds for some of our favourite garden wildlife. Birds and bats will swoop and flutter overhead to check out your pond, rich in little aquatic insects to feed on. You might also spot hedgehogs and other mammals sniffling and scampering nearby to get a refreshing drink.
What you will need:
Step 1
Space out your plants. Make sure they are just above water level, by adding extra stones if necessary.
Step 2
If your basin is not watertight, add waterproof liners. A layer of stones will be an effective base for your pond.
Step 3
You only need a few pond plants to make this habitat wild. Miniature waterlily, lesser spearwort, starwort and flowering rush are all great options.
Step 5
If you are unable to dig a hole in your garden to make your pond ground level, create a wildlife ramp for easy access. Add big stones or branches around your pot either at one side or surrounding the whole pot.
WILD Summer 2022
Step 6
Use rainwater to fill up your pond. By adding a few big rocks that are halfsubmerged, you are providing extra resting places for animals to perch on, or an escape route to any accidental fall ins!
If you make your own miniature pond, we’d love to see it, send your pictures to magazine@essexwt.org.uk 32 |
Edwardes/2020VISION
• Washing up bowl/plant pot/disused sink • waterproof liner (if the container is not watertight) • rocks of different sizes • pond plants • rain water
Any empty container can make a great DIY miniature pond. Try and re-use materials you already have or collect unused stones by going on walks.
Step 4
Common frog photo: Guy
