Large Clay Lined Wildlife Pond Renovation near Durham by Pondguru

Large wildlife pond at Witton Gilbert near Durham.
The old pond was totally overgrown, had very steep sides and had no suitable shelter for wildlfe around it.
We cut back the overgrown willow and hawthorn from around the edges, taking care to lay all logs and branches in piles near the pond.
Next, with a small digger we cut paths around two sides of the pond and reduced the slope on one side to give better wildlife access and exit. The overgrown grass that had choked the pond was removed mostly with the digger (the rest raked out by hand) and placed over the log piles to create a sheltered environment suitable for amphibians (Hibernaculum).
The surrounding land was shaped with the digger to make a more interesting shaped surround to the pond and also allow future access for a digger or wheelbarow.
The outlet of the pond was raised by approx. 1' (30cm) to allow for more water capacity and a rock wall was integrated in one side of the pond to act as dry shelter for toads and possible basking sites for grass snakes (not present now)
Rough sedge grasses and rushes were planted around the sides to reduce the chances of grass invading the pond.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• clay
• natural
• pond
• construction
• renovation
• re-homing
• rebuild
• maintenance
• durham
• lanchester
• pondguru
• tyne
• valley
• aquatics
• koi
• filter
• fish
• wildlife
• frog
• toad
• newt
• british
• how
• to
• hunting
• archery
• wilderness
• stanley
• blaydon
• dunston
• reptiles
• exotics
• aquarium
• aqua
• one
• litre
• tank
• yt:crop=16:9

[Basjoouk]

its looking great looking forward to see it next year

[pondguru]

I think I may have to go back in the Spring as they want a good selection of plants to go in and around it so if I do, I'll get a video once it has settled.

Thanks for watching.

[fishcrazy104]

great job mate

[pondguru]

Thanks for watching and appreciating, man.

[pondguru]

Thanks - I'll post the video when I finally get it done.

[howarth004]

@pondguru You could be waiting for quite some time???all the best with it

[pondguru]

Too windy to do much of a commentary unfortunately. I had to hide in that hole to do the talking. At least the wind dries out the ground after a shower making it pleasant to work with. I am stuck half way through a job now as it is frozen solid under snow and I need to finish building walls etc.

[howarth004]

Good Job done Richard , not the best time of year for doing it though