Wildlife pond

zugenie

I have some questions! Has anyone made one with a preformed pond?

Could I use wool packaging as an underliner? 

If you know of any good videos about setting up small wildlife ponds please share them!

Fairygirl

I've never used the preformed ponds - much harder to get right. 
I'm not sure what 'wool packaging' is like, but you basically need something that will hold the pond well, and won't shrink and cause instability. 

There are lots of threads about making ponds on the forum though. Most people prefer a liner, simply because it's far easier to do. 

zugenie

Fairygirl said:

I've never used the preformed ponds - much harder to get right. 
I'm not sure what 'wool packaging' is like, but you basically need something that will hold the pond well, and won't shrink and cause instability. 

There are lots of threads about making ponds on the forum though. Most people prefer a liner, simply because it's far easier to do. 

It’s felted wool, like this https://www.woolcool.com/food/woolcool-food-fleece-liners/ (out of the plastic) I have an abundance of it from as I used it for packing when moving house! 

Fairygirl

I expect it would be fine @zugenie
You might need to put a decent amount of water in your pond and then leave it for a while to settle, so that you can get the levels right. That's another thing that's a bit harder with a preformed pond. 

Pete.8

You can buy stuff to put around and under a pre-formed pond or use a thick layer of sand.
It's to protect the pond as it settles from sharp stones and also keep it level.
Your wool packing may be ok.

I had one put in when I had works done down the garden.
I was assured it would be done properly, but they actually just used a load of concrete!!!! The pond is no longer quite level, but otherwise seems to be fine.
It's been in 6 years now-


last year-

zugenie

I think I will do a liner, going for a research trip to the garden centres this weekend to compare the cost of liner there vs online and look at the cost of the stones and such! Need to mark the pond out so I get a rough idea of the size

Pete.8

Good luck!
Butyl is probably the best - and most expensive, but it should last decades.

zugenie

Yes the price did surprise me!!!

Fairygirl

I use Bradshaws or Pondkeeper for liners. Both are usually very competitive. GCs will alwasys be expensive.
I usually just go for the poly ones with a 25 yr guarantee. You often get holes from wildlife going in and out, so that's why I've never bothered with butyl. 

zugenie

Fairygirl said:

I use Bradshaws or Pondkeeper for liners. Both are usually very competitive. GCs will alwasys be expensive.
I usually just go for the poly ones with a 25 yr guarantee. You often get holes from wildlife going in and out, so that's why I've never bothered with butyl. 

That’s helpful, thank you! I was looking at pondkeeper, I think they were the best price that I found. Both videos I watched put underlayment over the top of the liner (one used black, the other used white but covered with soil) to protect the liner which I thought was interesting!

Fairygirl

I don't usually bother putting anything on the base before adding water. I expect it's personal choice, but I find once I have some planting in there, and it's established, a fair bit of sediment appears of it's own accord. There's always some detritus from plants or leaves in autumn etc, as well as wildlife bringing it in 
Some folk use a layer of sand on the base.