[richyrich7]

I'm hoping this year to turn the back garden more wildlife friendly and a smallish pond 4' x'4 ish seems a good idea, but we have a brook at the side and back of the garden so do you think it will be worth it? The brook has been concrete lined by the previous owners of our house and is about 4' ranging down to 8' below our garden level and only about 2" deep in the summer.

[tam]

I think you'd get different wildlife in a brook to a pond.

What's the bottom of the brook like? The  mucky layer on the bottom of the pond is good for all sorts of pond bugs and for frogs etc. If the brooks been lined and fast moving/stays clean then it might not be as effective?

You could also go for a shallow planted area around the edge of the pond and grow bog type plants to attract different sorts of insects. Frogs/toads also need more of a pool to spawn or it gets washed away.

[poultrygeist]

Yep. Agree with Tam. The birds and flying insects might be happier with still water too.

The more the better I say.

Since we put the pond in, we've twice as many birds. They get very territorial about it at this time of year.

Rob

[richyrich7]

  getting the liner tomorrow then just need to get the kids to dig it out 

The brooks got a concrete bottom Tam but a bit further up it goes back to it's natural pebble and muck bottom, I'm planning on getting the water from the brook to fill the pond thought it may give it a kick start on the biodivesity front, we have water extraction rights so no worries there.

Any suggestions for water plants or should I just borrow a few from the local lakes 

[poultrygeist]

Just be careful. Some water or bog plants can be very invasive.

If you can plant in baskets or a bit of soil on the bottom, there's some nice reeds and rushes available. Good for mayflies and their ilk. You'll get plenty of mozzy nymphs in the summer.

Rob

[richyrich7]

You'll get plenty of mozzy nymphs in the summer.

Rob

Great  just what I need more insect bites 

[Trillium]

You'll also need a potted oxygenating plant for the frogs who will keep down those mozzies. And a bit of rock that just sticks out of the pond so the butterflies can land and drink. The water flowers prefer still water but after a few years you're constantly dividing them and finding new homes for the extras.

[poultrygeist]

ANother thing you'll get is loads of bees and wasps coming in for a drink. Fascinating to watch.
I've got a couple of pond books I can look at. I've noticed most nurseries tend to have about half a dozen plant varieties plus a few marsh plants. Trying to think of latin names but will def need to dig out the book.

Rob

[peapod]

dont get water mint, its a pain in the rear end, and very straggly and tatty looking after a while, grasses always look nice and of course water lillies (which also like still water)

[poultrygeist]

If (like me) you love irises (iris laevigata), there's some beautiful colours available. Blue is my fave.
Scirpus Zebrinus is a 3ft bulrush wih variegated stem.
Typha Minima is the dwarf reedmace and is good for small ponds.
Astilbe is a bog plant but I think it'll stand a bit of water round the roots.

Water buttercup (ranunculus aquatilus) is an oxygenator. White flowers, submerged leaves.

ROb

[Rangerkris]

These look nice. i took this last year at work

[poultrygeist]

Them's 'em Kris.

Lovely combo of blue and yellow. Mmmmm. 

Rob

[tam]

Don't forget sides with a gradient/step so the hedgehogs daft enough to fall in can climb out again - they do that a lot!

[richyrich7]

Well I've finished it  I'll pop a piccie in tomorrow if I remember 

[Paul Plots]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures..

Ponds are great for adding another dimension to a garden no matter how small the pond is. Ours is a tiny oasis of insect life and the plants are gorgeous. They grow so speedily that every couple of years I have to set to with an old bread-knife cutting out the growth to keep some open water.