▲Back to contents
Water for wildlife
NatureScot’s Make Space For Nature campaign has plenty of simple tips and ideas for everyone to help reverse nature loss and climate change. A range of seasonal activities encourage you outdoors to benefit both nature and yourself. We can all do something during spring to make a difference: plant for pollinators, avoid cutting grass until late spring, leave some bird nest building materials lying around, avoid pruning spring-flowering trees or shrubs, take part in a nature survey, provide a pond….
Providing water at any time of the year will help a great variety of wildlife. Ponds can attract frogs, toads and newts, plus dragonflies, water boatmen and other freshwater insects. And a pond can provide a welcome watering hole for birds and mammals, including hedgehogs and foxes.
Buy or DIY?
Even a small pond can be great for wildlife. 19
Plastic and fibre glass ponds are available from garden centres and online, but they often have high sides, which is OK for fish but does limit their appeal to wider wildlife. Alternatively, you can build your own – even a small pond can be great for a wide variety of species. Build it and they will come! Wildlife ponds usually have curved shapes with shelved edges and a sloping end to allow wildlife to get in and out. They are commonly lined with plastic or rubber material, which will mould to the shape of your pond.
