BOATS AND CANALS

From Ornamental Fish to Wildlife

Originally my pond was built for fish and it had nets to protect the fish from herons and other pests like cats and possibly rats, see earlier pond articles.

Since getting rid of my fish I have decided to turn it into a natural pond hopefully to attract wild life but I needed to make changes because in its present form it is not really suitable.

To start with I have removed the nets and because the sides are too steep I need to make ways for hedgehogs to get out if they fall in. I know they can swim but they couldn’t climb the steep slippery sides.

I have initially made a basic set of stone steps at the shallow end, these will be improved, and at the deep end I will make a ramp or some other means to enable them to climb out at this end.

Other problems away from the pond could be the locks and canal, the easy option to keep them safe is to completely block access to this part of the garden under the spoke bridge, the issue with this is my access. The Spoke Bridge over the gap is removable to allow me easy access to cut the grass and other things that I need to do inside the track so whatever I come up with the bridge needs to be completely removable. The ‘gate’ sits on two brackets and can be lifted off when need be.

I know that I still have plenty of work to do but at least I have started.

POND PLANTS

You may know the plants that I currently have in my pond by different names but they are:

Floaters:-

Frogbit
Stratiotea Aloides – Water Soldiers

Marginals:-

Bog Arum
Iris - American Water Iris
Iris – yellow
Iris ensata 'Eileen's Dream'
Iris versicolor - Blue Flag
Mimulus Guttatus – Monkey Flower

Oxygenators:-

Elodea Densa
Fontinalis (Willow Moss)
Ludwigia Glandulosa - Cylindricfruit Primrose-Willow

I am also ‘experimenting’ to see if some garden plants will survive in the pond, it’s early days but the plants that I have used seem to be fine.

Garden Plants - Experiment.

Planted As Marginals:-

Mint
Creeping Jenny
Sedum
Forget Me Not

If these are successful I might try others, I will keep you updated on successes if any.

_________________
Maurice

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I have made this initial ramp for as long it lasts, it is more rustic than elegant but I am sure it will serve its purpose adequately.

I had some spare bits of wood so I cut two pieces of 1" x 1" x 29" and 6 pieces of ship lap fencing 7" wide. I haven't overlapped the wood and made the 'steps' upside down to give more grip for the hedgehogs when climbing out if they fall in.

No doubt squirrels and bird will use it to get a drink of water even though there is plenty of water around the garden.

_________________
Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

I have added 4 Houttuynia cordata variegata marginal plants today, Chameleon plants to you and me.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals