Ideas for a pond please

I'm overwhelmed by ideas from Pinterest! I have a new area at the back of my garden where I'm thinking of a pond or area for maringinal plants. I'd particularly like a Gunera. However I don't want to have to dig down too far and wondered if anyone has some innovative ideas for a shallow - or raised - water feature? I don't want any stream or fountain.
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What soil do you have? I am in fairly heavy clay but, picking the right time of the year, it isn't too difficult to dig down to 50cm.
It's early days, but the planting will soon cover the edges of the pond. This is often a problem with pre-formed ponds, it can be tricky to hide the edges.
1. It has a large overhanging tree which, in summer, may leave it in shadow for much of the day and, in autumn, will drop its leaves into the pond. Buy a net and prepare to use it judiciously in autumn and winter.
2. It is along the line that someone would take when walking through your gate. I'm not sure whether you have children or visitors but it may be that a raised pond is better in that site to avoid people accidentally stepping too far into it. Even a couple of courses of brick or stone would suffice to bring it into eyeline and avoid it being a hazard.
Some hostas have large leaves and can be accommodated far more readily than a gunnera. Another option would be to look at a phormium; whilst the leaves themselves are not 'large', it gives a lot of presence from its foliage and can look very striking next to water.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Everyone seems to be advising me against gunnera so I'll take that on board. Good advice about phormium, I think I'll avoid hostas tho as we have plenty of slugs.