Having a pond is a great way to incorporate a nice feature into your garden. It can add an extra dimension to the space and even provide you with the chance to have an ongoing project to tend to as a bit of a hobby.
Another benefit of having a pond in your garden is that such a water feature often encourages various forms of wildlife to visit. This can be great when you have kids who are curious about nature or when you simply enjoy sharing your garden with various creatures.
When you properly maintain your pond, you are sure to receive a variety of visitors. Here are just a few of the ones that the average UK pond owner can expect to see from time to time in their freshwater pond.
1. Toads
A freshwater pond is an inviting place for various types of amphibians, including the common toad. You might find such creatures hopping into your pond to cool off in the spring and summertime or even when they are in search of aquatic space to lay their eggs.
If you want to encourage visits from toads or frogs, it is important to make sure that you construct your pond properly. There should be at least a slight slope around the edges so that they can easily hop in and out without too much effort. You might even incorporate certain platforms for them to rest on, such as lily pads or rocks that poke out of the water.
Those who hope to have little tadpoles swimming about the place should ensure that the water’s pH levels are properly balanced and that the pond itself is well maintained. Have a look at the advice and equipment at water-garden.co.uk to ensure that you have all you need to create the perfect environment for little toads and other amphibians.
2. Birds
There are a variety of beautiful birds who might be looking for a refreshing place to splash about or find a drink throughout the warmer months of the year. The right sort of pond can end up being the perfect oasis for sweet singing birds right in your own garden.
If you want to encourage some feathered visitors to your pond, make sure that there are plenty of low-hanging branches and places where they can rest close to the water where they can reach a drink. That being said, if you keep fish in your pond, you might not want it to be too welcoming for birds such as herons, who tend to feed on small fish.
3. Dragonflies
When you have a pond in your garden, you can be sure that you will be visited by an array of insects and bugs. While some might not be particularly welcome, others, like dragonflies, are pretty incredible to see up close.
These winged creatures date back to the Jurassic period and use impressive mechanisms to fly about. They might even use your pond as the perfect place to lay their eggs.
