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Brighton Urban Wildlife Group |
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Creating a pond A pond provides the chance to create in miniature something like a coherent habitat and one of unlimilted fascination. In addition, the pond may act as a vital water supply for wildlife in the area. Water in the landscape is a magnet for living things. Locate the pond in a sunny or semi-sunny location . Avoid too many overhanging branches, but some vegetation at the side of a pond is beneficial as it provides cover for animals using the pond to drink.  Building a pond Within limits, a pond may be any shape or size, but the depth of water should be at least two feet at some point, to provide winter living space if the surface freezes over, and to protect the inhabitants from excessive summer drought. A deep and a shallow part, flat parts and sloping parts all increase diversity. A very gentle slope one one side is important for wildlife coming down to drink and to prevent animals getting stuck in the pond. Using string and pegs, mark out the ground at least six inches larger than you want the pond to be. Dig out the earth (there will be a lot of earth!) piling it up away from the pond site, and, again, dig out at least six inches deeper than the final result. Remove loose stone or roots from the bowl of the pond and smooth the surface. It is best to line the pond with either sand or old carpet. This provides a soft base for the liner. Lay the butyl rubber liner on top of the sand/carpet. The butyl rubber want to be as wrinkle free as possible, but it is virtually impossible to avoid a few wrinkles. Try to ease the wrinkles so that the weight of the water does not rupture the liner. Bring the liner right up to the string and pegs and then cover the edge with six-inch wide turves or large flat stones to hide it. Fill with water. Algal Blooms Because tap water containes nitrates, the water in the pond will turn green, and this will last for about a month or two. Do not worry. The water will clear of its own accord Sprinkle some sand onto the bottom of the pond and leave it all to settle. Introducing wildlife Some creatures will arrive under their own steam e.g. dragonflies, and a bucket of silt from a friend's pond will help to provide the minute organisms which sustain the health of a pond.( If you don't know of any other wildlife ponds then email us (contacts page) and we will try to help). Pond plants help to encourage other wildlife and suitable species are given in the table.
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