Wildlife pond edge.

Slow day

Hi,first time post,I have been inspired to build a wildlife pond by reading this forum.All going well, trying to do it on a very small budget so was given o lot of sandstone to edge in by a local famer who has knocked down a old barn. Lovely stones​ but there is old lime mortar on some of the stones.Barn was 120 years old.was a great gift from farmer but what do I do about the mortar? Hope someone can give advice on how to clean stones if it needs removing

Thanks

Last edited: 05 May 2017 22:17:18

hogweed

Hammer and chisel should do the job.

Slow day

Thanks ,I will be starting to clean stones today, will any residue mortar harm pond life. Not planing on putting fish in pond ,waterlly and lots is other pants,pond mainly for birds and hopefully frog's. ?

Lyn

Let the grass grow up, don't mow, they love long grass and weeds to hide in, clean cleared edges don't attract wildlife as well as left alone natural. 

hogweed

Once you have hammered and chiselled them, you could try going over them with a wire brush. Then they should be good to go. 

Slow day

Thanks,I have cleaned most of the mortar off the stones but there is still some residue of the lime mortar left on them. This very old as the stones came from walls of a 120 year old barn.Will the lime harm the wildlife or plants in pond?

Dovefromabove

I don't think it will cause a problem. I live in an area where there is a lot of chalk/ lime in the groundwater, and of course limestone streams are great wildlife habitats. Your pond sounds as if it's going to be wonderful