Make natural edges with
really shallow water
The greatest variety of animals and plants live in very
shallow water at the edges of the pond – not in the
middle. So the best wildlife ponds have very gently
shelving natural edges, often fringed by grasses.
To make good habitat for, tadpoles, newt larvae,
water beetles and dragonflies make areas of water
no more than 2-3 cm deep (an inch or so).
Unless you’re keeping big fish, the deepest areas
need to be no more than 25-30 cm (1 foot). Most
pond guides say dig ponds 60-70 cm deep to ‘stop
them freezing solid’ but in Britain there’s no need
A perfect garden wildlife pond
Shallow water, a natural sandy bottom,
grassy edges and full of plants
to do this because we only ever get an inch or two
of ice on the water even in the coldest weather.