More than 1,000 species of animals live in ponds – although you are unlikely to find all of them in any single pond. A pond is the best way to help wildlife in your garden, and here are tips for small ponds in small or middlesized gardens. A washing-up bowl, a large plant pot, or a disused sink could all be repurposed as ponds, providing you make sure creatures can get in and out. But a formal rectangular or square pond can still be wildlife friendly. If your outdoor pond is between 50 and 500 gallons, you may be thinking that there’s less variety to the fish that you can have, particularly when taking into consideration the natural difficulties that come along with pond fish being outside in the elements. Ponds have existed for millions of years and the animals and plants that rely on them have evolved perfectly to fill this niche. Any pond can become a feeding ground for birds, hedgehogs and bats – the best natural garden pest controllers! Ponds are often formed when rainwater or melted snow collects in a pit in the ground, or if a … This means that the water does not move as it does in a stream or a river. See page 5 for a step-by-step on making your pond. Pond Animals. Creatures of the Water: A Kid's Guide to Pond Animals A pond is usually a shallow body of still water. Stick ‘front inside’and ‘back inside’dials together, back to back 3. Think big, start small! Ponds have their very own ecosystem consisting of microscopic organisms, like zooplankton, and freshwater sponges, worms and other animal species. Give your pond the best chance of success by selecting the best possible site. www.sussexwt.org.uk 01273 492630 Taking Care of Sussex Sussex Wildlife Trust Aq2 Pond Life Dial front inside dial To make dial 1. Seasonal ponds are important as fish can’t survive in them. Animals found here include ducks, water boatmen, midge larvae and tadpoles. Make sure to include oxygenating plants so you don't require a pump, which will suck in and destroy all the smaller creatures. Think big, start small Your pond needn’t be big. Toads tend to like larger ponds, but there is every chance a frog or newt will find your mini-pond, especially if you provide corridors of cover next to a pond, and add a frog and toad abode nearby. For a naturalistic effect, make a pond with an informal, curved outline. Pond creatures are great at finding ponds themselves. Ponds can be a real haven for wildlife. Even if you have a very small pond, there are still plenty of hardy pond fish species suitable for stocking. Laminate three pieces (1 dial and 2 covers) 4. Lots of sunshine will attract the widest range of creatures, but even shady ponds make good habitats for newts. Use a split pin to attach the front and back covers to dial. Leave your pond at least a week for the soil to settle before planting. Adding a pond is one of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden Why a pond? Aquatic creatures will colonise a pond themselves. if your garden is bigger than a courtyard, but smaller than an acre ... Water is essential for all creatures. Jon Hawkins Pond margin - plants provide a sheltered habitat for insects and smalls animals such as frogs. Your pond needn’t be big. About 2000-3000 years ago around one third of the UK was wetlands. Almost every group of living creature is represented, except starfish which live only in the sea. Human activity has led to a loss of ponds. Water Worms in a Garden Pond. If you have to use tap water to start a pond or container pond then also add Chlorine Guard - an eco-friendly liquid treatment of the chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals in tap water. A washing-up bowl, a large plant pot, or a disused sink could all be repurposed as ponds, providing you make sure creatures can get in and out. Even a small pond can be alive with frogs, newts, dragonflies and many attractive plants. Cut out all four sections 2. Fill these new ponds with rainwater to lower the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous that come with tap water.