Plan your wildlife-friendly pond for all


We’re rapidly losing our ponds, rivers and streams in the UK, so adding a pond is one of the best things you can do to help wildlife in your garden. Kate Bradbury explains how to make your pond a haven for animals, large and small.


A mix of pond plants Long grass for cover


Allow the grass to grow long around your pond, or grow low-growing herbaceous plants nearby, to provide cover for young frogs, toads and newts and protect them from predators such as birds.


Add a range of emergent, floating and submerged plants to provide the best habitat for wildlife, offering egg-laying habitat and shelter from predators. Submerged plants oxygenate the water, too.


Shallow water


This is where the life is! Here, you’ll find tadpoles and other aquatic larvae. Shallow areas warm up more quickly in spring, and frogs lay spawn here.


Emergent plants


Dragonfly nymphs climb out of the water using the stems of emergent plants before transforming into winged adults.


Landing pad


Water lilies will be used by thirsty insects such as bees. Frogs may rest on them to catch insects and aquatic larvae will shelter beneath them.


Deep water


In winter, deep areas provide shelter for frogs, which rest at the bottom, breathing through their skin. Toads prefer deep ponds too.


38 Cumbrian Wildlife | September 2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44