A place for wildlife
Make a miniature pond and watch the insect and bird life flock to it! It may even attract a resident frog or toad.
What you need
A Watertight Container
Wood for Wildlife Ramps
Chicken Wire
Pond Plants
How to Make
- Fill the pond bucket/container with water from a water butt or tap. Leave tap water standing for a few days before adding any plants.
- Make your ramps, for birds, frogs, toads or small mammals to use to get into and out of your pond. Securely wedge a piece of wood into the container for creatures to climb out if they fall in. Have another ramp outside the pond. Cover your ramps with chicken wire to make them less slippery.
- Make shelves for your water plants’ pots. Stand the pots on bricks (or similar) inside your pond to get the right depth for your plants.
- Add your plants. Choose at least one each of Marginal, Floating and Oxygenating plants to keep the water clear and attract a variety of wildlife.
Plants for small or mini ponds
Marginal plants
Sweet flag, a grass up to 12cm tall
Brooklime, has blue and white flowers
Water iris
Corkscrew rush
Water forget-me-nots
Floating plants
Water lily (make sure you choose a small variety)
Frogbit
Oxygenating plants
Water violet
Water milfoils