enjoying george's pond ...

Once again, I must apologise to my reader for the delay in posting. Tooo many distractions!

Since we began work transforming our neglected and overgrown six acres, the single most satisfying thing has been developing George's Pond. 

We began work in the New Year, shaped and lined the pond and covered the Bentomat liner with compacted sandy soil. It is fed with rainwater that is collected on our roofs.

And, as you'd expect, here in the ethical left field the pond flies in the face of received wisdom. So:

• No water pump. Our plant fauna and flora have developed over thousands of years to thrive where water oxygen levels are low.
• No filtration. Algae is a natural feature of ponds and a healthy pond will achieve a balance - especially if only rainwater filled. It is often high nutrient tap water or run-off from fields that leads to high nitrate levels and then algaeal blooms.
• No steep sides - gently sloping sides to allow easy access and egress for pond fauna.
• No fish! If minnows arrive naturally, they will be welcome.... but fish eat the precious pond life we are trying to encourage and increase the nitrogen content of the water.
• No topping up! Some ponds dry out quite naturally in the summer but pond life thrives when the pond refills.

mother duck and her ducklings

And the result of this zeal is now beginning to be seen. This week a blue dragonfly and a broad-bodied chaser were slugging it out to create breeding territories.

Baby toads and frogs hide within the log pile refuges we've built.

Stock doves and magpies are regular drinkers. And on a red-letter day a dozen crossbills landed in the Scots Pines above the pond. 

And plants are beginning to colonise the pond edges. We've helped along the way with friends' contributions of rushes, flag iris and water lilies. But most of the vegetation is going to be that which regenerates naturally or is brought in by visiting birds.

Ponds don't have to be large to give a vital helping hand to wildlife. In our garden dishes of water are used by birds for vital drinking and bathing as is the more conventional bird bath. We also have small ponds loved by frogs and have rainwater barrels resplendent with water lilies, wriggling with insect larvae - that are also enjoyed by autumnal grey wagtails. Any water vessel that doesn't pose a risk will be a help to the wildlife in even the tiniest garden.

In George's Pond there has to be an 'Arr' factor, doesn't there..?

We have it! A pair of mallards joined us in spring and two weeks ago mum came onto the lawn to proudly display her ducklings. 

George's Pond is itself only a baby being six months old and we know it will take a number of years for it to achieve maturity, its' own natural balance and for the vegetation to support and shelter the range of wildlife we hope it will eventually foster.

But the real problem this is all creating for my line manager is motivating me to work when I can sit on a log, huge mug of tea in hand watching dragonflies and ducklings in my pond. It may be a while before I can find the time to post again - but you'll know where to find me!