The number of ponds in the UK is thought to have greatly decreased over the last century. Many people are put off by the cost of building a pond or the maintenance required afterwards. But in fact, building a pond could have numerous benefits. Below are just some of the great reasons to splash out on a garden pond.
A pond is a great home for pet fish
Pet fish aren’t just for indoor tanks. You can also keep pet fish outdoors by building a pond. Goldfish, shubunkins, koi carps and orfes are just some of the common fish kept in ponds across the UK. While you’ll need to keep the water oxygenated with a working pump, keeping fish in a pond otherwise requires very little maintenance – you don’t have to clean a pond as often as a tank, neither do you have to feed pond fish in the winter (the fish enter a dormant state due to the temperature). To keep fish in a pond, make sure that the pond is at least 2 ft deep. Larger fish will require an even deeper pond to thrive in.
A pond also helps support local wildlife
From an environmental standpoint, a pond could be one of the most beneficial features that you can add to your garden. Ponds serve as an oasis for a range of local wildlife including frogs, dragonflies and birds. This in turn provides food for other animals further up the food chain. If you want to attract more local wildlife to your garden, build a pond.
A pond can make your garden more tranquil
Adding a pond to your garden could also help to relieve stress. We are hardwired to feel more relaxed around natural bodies of water – whether they be the sea, rivers, lakes or a simple pond. The shimmering light on the water, the sound of the water and the wildlife that a pond brings can also help us to feel calmer. Build a pond if you want to turn your garden into a peaceful sanctuary.
A pond can boost your home’s value by 15%
Thinking of selling your home in the near future? A pond could potentially add value to your home. While some buyers can be put off by the prospect of maintaining a pond, others can be attracted by this feature. Providing that you have continued to maintain the pond and that it is in a suitable place, it should help to add a lot of aesthetic value to your garden. As a result, homes with ponds can sell for as much as 15% more in some areas of the country.
A pond can enable you to explore different plants
If you’re green fingered, then a pond could be a chance to experiment with growing different types of shrubs – including aquatic plants. Some of the plants that you can grow in a pond include water lilies, water hyacinth, water lettuce and marsh marigolds. There are also many plants that thrive around a pond such as ferns, irises, spearmint and bulrushes. Such plants will further attract wildlife, keep your pond healthy and add beauty to it.
A pond also offers the opportunity to experiment with waterfalls and fountains
A pond could provide the opportunity to play around with different water features. Such features can help oxygenate your pond as well as contributing to the relaxing ambience of your pond. You can install waterfalls that cascade down rocks into your pond or fall straight into your pond from a height. Alternatively, you can add fountains in the middle of your pond to spray water out into the surrounding surface of the pond. Some of these features can be expensive, but there are many affordable water features you can buy.
A pond can help with drainage
You could also consider adding a pond to the lowest part of your garden to provide added drainage when it’s raining. This can reduce the need to fill your pond as often, while helping to control water runoff. Such ponds are known as attenuation ponds and can be designed to temporarily hold and release water to prevent flooding. There are also added drainage systems you can add around ponds in case they overflow such as adding gravel.
A pond isn’t as high maintenance as you think
How well you build your pond and where you place it can affect how easy or difficult it is to maintain. Many people worry about their pond developing leaks, but opting for a durable lining such as fibreglass pond lining can prevent this. Meanwhile, placing a pond away from trees can stop it from getting constantly full of debris. Water features will keep water moving and reduce the need for regular cleaning. Keeping fish in a pond will up the maintenance slightly, but there are long stretches of the year where you shouldn’t even have to feed fish because it’s so cold and they enter a dormant state.
A pond doesn’t have to be expensive to install either
The cost of installing a pond depends a lot on the size of the pond and the water features you plan to add to it. Smaller ponds can be installed for as little as £500 – and you can reduce the cost further by installing them yourself. Above ground ponds can be an affordable option if you’re considering something slightly larger. Stick to basic pumps rather than elaborate waterfalls and fountains to further keep the cost down.
A pond can be made safe and secure
Some people worry about young kids or pets falling in a pond and not being able to get out. However, unless it’s a deep pond, it’s unlikely to be much of a danger. Nonetheless, you can always choose to add railings as a safety feature. Alternatively, you could opt for a raised pond. Netting can prevent wild animals from falling into your pond while also stopping birds taking fish. You can also add slopes to ponds to allow animals that fall in to easily climb out.