Given an old water tank!

[Mallard]

Two foot deep black plastic, and water tight, now!
Just what my new bit of plot needs, a pond!


I'm told I should wait until May to get oxygenating plants, is that right?

I've a good mind to plant courgettes round it next season, has anybody better ideas?

[Totally Scrambled]

Oooooh an allotment sneak thief/vandal trap. Brilliant idea Mallard
Dom

[Homemade]

You could get a bit of oxygenating plant from someone with a pond and put it in now, it will carry on growing untill it gets cold.

You could put rhubarb next to the pond - it would look like Gunnera the giant "rhubarb" that you see around lakes.

Peppermint is a waterside plant.

Don't forget to put stones or a piece of wood into the tank so that frogs and other animals and birds can get in and out.

[Mallard]

Oooooh an allotment sneak thief/vandal trap. Brilliant idea Mallard
Dom

That has been suggested! But the wire grid in the first pic will fit over the top, mainly to keep the ducks off!

You could get a bit of oxygenating plant from someone with a pond and put it in now, it will carry on growing untill it gets cold.

You could put rhubarb next to the pond - it would look like Gunnera the giant "rhubarb" that you see around lakes.

Peppermint is a waterside plant.

Don't forget to put stones or a piece of wood into the tank so that frogs and other animals and birds can get in and out.

I like the peppermint and rhubarb idea, I'll be on that tomorrow!
I have my eye on a some sawn up branches in my neighbour's plot, I'm watering their plot this week, so........ !

[rubyhen]

Hi Mallard

I am always amazed at how quickly you make things (and they look fantastic!). Have you ever thought about moving to Kent?! There's a free plot next to mine on the alotment!

I grow courgettes round the pond as they seem to give frogs good shelter and they can eat up the slugs where possible. I had to get a bucket of the local frog spawn from the river but it has been well worth it.

Ruby

[Steve the Gas]

Ssshh Ruby ... that's illeagal.

[ChrisG]

Ssshh Ruby ... that's illeagal.

Is it?

[HedgeHugger]

I know it is illegal to sell spawn. The thing with moving spawn is if there are 'sick' frogs you can move it around, spread it, from pond to pond. It's also not a good idea to move adult frogs from pond to pond for the same reason. They will turn up by themselves.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7282649.stm

We built a new pond in May this year. There is at least one resident frog :)

You could always grow watercress. It is a good plant for a pond. Newts also lay their eggs on it.
The cheapest way to buy it, if you can't find or given any, is to buy a bag of watercress salad from your local supermarket and just bung the watercress in your pond. You will usually see some roots growing from some of the plants in the bag anyway, but they will grow:)
We paid an obscene amount of money for a watercress plant from the garden centre once, first pond- first watercress plant, the slugs ate it overnight!!

[rubyhen]

Ssshh Ruby ... that's illeagal.

Oh no! What do you recon the punishment will be? I could be frog matched away (arf arf!)

Roob the villian

[Steve the Gas]

[Mallard]

Hi Mallard
I am always amazed at how quickly you make things (and they look fantastic!). Have you ever thought about moving to Kent?! There's a free plot next to mine on the alotment!
Ruby

I amaze myself sometimes, especially when materials present themselves and things go as planned! Us Pagans do have magick you know!
Today for instance I showed the pond to a plotter we call the birdman, "I'll bring you some oxygenating plants tomorrow!" he said!

Frogs are one thing, great crested newts can stop developers....

[Mrs B]

You are very talented Mallard, you don't fancy living in my garden for a month do you?

There is a summerhouse and could hire you a caravan

[Mallard]

You are very talented Mallard, you don't fancy living in my garden for a month do you?

There is a summerhouse and could hire you a caravan

Tempting, Dovedale is my favourite bit of English countryside!

[Mrs B]

Sorry its Burton On Trent not Dovedale, lots of beer around though

[jacob123]

Dovedale is also on of my favourite parts of the countryside, my family have a Static caravan in ashbourne, on the Callow Top Park which is near Dovedale, the walk to Milldale from Dovedale is very nice, all the climbs are good, I've been doing Thorpe Cloud from when I was 4!! , We also Drive through Burton on Trent to get to our Van!