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That sinking feeling

Lupin LoopyLupin Loopy Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Hi guys.
I live in a new build house and have decided to redesign the garden. I have decided to make a wildlife pond 2 metres by 1.5and 80 cm deep . After diging the pond shape I found about a spade spit of topsoil covering at least 2 foot of sand. To be expected from a new build I know. The problem is that with the rain we have had since the hole has been dug I can't  stop the hole from filling with water. I have emptied it numerous times but water keeps seeping into it from the surrounding sand on the side of the hole. Is there anyway to stop this or am I going to have to fill the hole and change my plans. Thank you for any ideas or advice.
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  • KT53KT53 Posts: 7,730
    If a hole in sand isn't draining it suggests that there is a high water table, or it's a comparatively narrow layer of sand with heavier ground below.  I'd suggest waiting until there are a few dry days and see if the water drains away then.
    Our garden is very free draining, in fact there's a clause in the deeds to say that commercial extraction of sand and gravel isn't allowed!  Nonetheless, whenever we get very heavy rain our neighbour's garden floods but then drains within about 24 hours of the rain stopping.
    If the water does drain OK there shouldn't be a problem with installing a liner and creating a pond.
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    And if it really, really didn't drain away then, hey-presto, you've got a pond anyway ... seasonal maybe, but then that's what wildlife has evolved to handle.
  • Lupin LoopyLupin Loopy Posts: 10
    Our garden is built up 3 to 4 metres over the field out the back and there is no flooding in the field so I don't  think it's a water table issue. Possibly the sand is covering some very compacted building rubble and there is no drainage. Will have to wait and see what happens when the weather improves.
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,234
    That's how my pond was made...no liner required!  :) It's not seasonal either, just a really high water table.
    Until I put the overflow in the water was level with the surrounding grass. I had to pump it out on several occasions just to get the grass cut.  :'( 
    Yeterday we dug some holes to plant trees and today they look like this.  :(

  • Lupin LoopyLupin Loopy Posts: 10
    After today's rain.😲
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,234
    Is it wrong that I laughed a little bit. :blush:
    It looks so familiar.
    My pond is about 30ft x40ft and is a natural sump. When it was made there was a permeable membrane put in to hold the muck back and now it sits, level rising and falling (very very slightly), full of newts, snails, beetles, critters and at the moment several thousand/million tadpoles!
    Yours doesn't look as if the level will come up much more so get rid of what's in it, pop your liner in quick and when you fill it up with water it'll be fine.
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    plant pauper said:
    Yeterday we dug some holes to plant trees and today they look like this.  :(

    Snap! I shall be starting a new discussion on this to see what ideas people have for a solution (don't want to hijack this thread). Can I borrow your picture to save having to take my own :)
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,234
    Course you can DGM. A hole's a hole for aw that!
    I have a couple more with a size 4 wellie for scale.  :D
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    plant pauper said:
    Course you can DGM. A hole's a hole for aw that!
    I have a couple more with a size 4 wellie for scale.  :D
    Thanks, too dark here to get a picture this evening.
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    plant pauper said:
    My pond is about 30ft x40ft and is a natural sump. When it was made there was a permeable membrane put in to hold the muck back
    Like the black ground membrane one can use to supress weeds?
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