How to make a safe and accessible garden pond

Over the last 18 months, many of us have spent an awful lot of time in our garden when shops and attractions were closed and many people used their spare time to update their homes and change their gardens to suit their tastes.

Gardens are tranquil places and are the perfect location for those with limited mobility who might rely on homelift tor stairlift solutions to enjoy some peace and tranquillity alongside wildlife and nature. A pond is a lovely addition to any garden and is a relatively simple build for those who may wish to add one to their outdoor space. Ash Mawby the Communications Officer at Froglife explains why a pond is a great addition to any garden: “A wildlife pond makes a fantastic addition to any garden. It can attract a huge variety of wildlife from tiny invertebrates to large mammals and just watching these creatures makes your garden a lot more interesting.”

Keep on reading to find out how to make a safe and accessible garden pond with recommendations and tips from garden lovers and enthusiasts.

Keep it simple

Not every pond needs to be large and dug into the turf of your garden, a pond can be as simple as an old plastic container or a basic fishpond you can buy from the garden centre. For those with limited mobility having to dig a hole is going to be a struggle, so thinking of other alternatives is a great option, as Ash explains a little more:

“Keep it simple! There is no need for any digging or specialist equipment. Your pond can be anything from a disused mixing bowl to an old sink. As long as there is easy access for wildlife to get in and out (a branch or bricks work fine), you have yourself a ready-made pond. Just add some plants and rocks for the full effect.”

A mix of sun and shade 

When planning where to place your pond, making sure it is situated in the right place to gain enough light and shade throughout the day is really important. It might sound simple, but you don’t want your pond to be in direct sunlight all day as this could allow it to dry out. If you are planning to have fish in your water, then they equally like cooler places to shelter, so finding a spot in your garden that offers the best of both worlds is perfect.

“For a successful wildlife pond, there needs to be a good mix of sun and shade. Remember to place your pond in the ideal spot before filling it with water. Use rainwater where possible as tap water causes algal growth,” Ash explains.

Go natural where possible

Now you have chosen the placement of your pond and have decided on the size, it is probably time to fill it up. You may feel gravitated towards the hose in eagerness, but if you can, leave the pond to fill naturally with the rain.

Similarly, your pond will need a little helping hand getting going, so adding some plants to the water to help with oxygenation, Alexandra from the blog The Middle Sized Garden explains: “Ponds need oxygenating plants (available from most garden centres).”

Head to your local garden centre and find some plants to add, it is important to note that you will want to tailor your plant choices to whether you want to attract wildlife or you are adding fish to the area. Gathering stones, pebbles and other small rocks is also a great way to attract wildlife and allows animals and fish to hide and shelter from the elements.

“Inside the pond, you can use stones, rocks or even bricks. And on the outside, pots or logs can act as ‘steps’ up. Make sure that small ponds don’t dry out in hot weather – anything too shallow and small is difficult to maintain in hot weather. And don’t add fish if you want to encourage frogs, newts, dragonflies etc, because the fish will eat the spawn and tadpoles”, Alexandra adds.

Think about a raised pond 

As well as keeping the pond simple and small, it might be a good idea to make sure that your new pond is raised, not only will this make it easy to maintain, but it’ll also make it easy for you to set up, this is a tip that Alexandra recommended:

“A pond is very important for wildlife, so even if you can only have a tiny one, I’d warmly recommend it. But it’s important that you can access it for any maintenance, so I’d suggest a raised pond at a height you find easy to access. Even mini ponds don’t need a huge amount of maintenance if they’re set up properly, but it is important to set them up properly.”

Sit back and enjoy the wildlife 

It is now time to sit back and enjoy your lovely garden pond and the sound of trickling water, Ash loves the animals that are always attracted to ponds and how they can instantly lift a mood:

“Sit back, relax and enjoy your pond! A huge variety of animals will enjoy a water source, no matter how big or small. Birds will bathe in it, hedgehogs and other mammals will drink from it, and even frogs will spawn in it!”

If you’re thinking about adding a small pond to your garden, then hopefully some of these tips and recommendations have given you some inspiration and guidance for your own gardens. For more tips and blogs like these then head to our news section.

How to make a safe and accessible garden pond

• Keep it simple
• A mix of sun and shade
• Go natural where possible
• Think about a raised pond
• Sit back and enjoy the wildlife