The Wildlife-friendly Garden. Michael Chinery

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       Acres Wild/Ian Smith

      6 Press the unit gently until level, then part-fill with water and back-fill with sifted soil or sand.

       Flexible liners

      These liners allow you to have a pond of virtually any shape you like. You can use heavy-duty black polythene, but butyl rubber is a better material and, although considerably more expensive, it is likely to last much longer. Whatever you get, make sure it has at least a ten-year guarantee.

       Calculating the liner size

      You can calculate the required liner size by measuring the maximum length and breadth of the pond, adding twice the maximum depth to each dimension, and then adding a further 50cm (20in) to each to allow for sufficient overlap at the pond’s margins. Although you can choose whatever shape you like, butyl rubber liners are usually rectangular, so long, narrow ponds tend to be rather wasteful of this lining material.

       WHICH WATER SOURCE?

      The tap is usually the only source of water for the pond. The high mineral content of tap water may encourage the algae to multiply rapidly and turn the water green in the summer, but this will not harm the wildlife of the pond and the algae will gradually dwindle as they use up the minerals. The best thing, if you are planning to have a pond, is to store up a supply of rain water ready for filling it. Always use rain water to top up your pond in the summer: an adaptor fitted to a drainpipe can be used to divert water into a hose leading to the pond.

      Acres Wild

      A) Moisture-loving shrubs, such as guelder rose and alder buckthorn, can be planted around the pond, but do not let them shade the water

      B) Free-floating plants, such as frogbit, provide shade for many small animals

      C) The floating leaves of yellow water lily and similar plants make good landing pads for dragonflies

      D) Large stones breaking the surface provide perches for drinking birds and basking spots for frogs

      E) A sloping ‘beach’ makes it easy for animals to get in and out of the pond

      F) Wetland plants, such as marsh marigold, provide food and shelter for insects and many other small creatures

      G) The flexible liner can be covered with fine soil here and there to allow plants to root naturally

      H) Submerged plants, such as curled pondweed and water milfoil, maintain oxygen levels

      I) The jetty can be supported on building blocks, but these should be set on rubber or plastic pads to protect the liner

      J) Native marginal plants, such as arrowhead and flowering rush, can be planted in the swampy area at the edge. They give a natural effect and provide cover for many animals

       PROTECT YOUR LINER

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