A step-by-step guide to creating a pond from scratch

Introduction:

Whether it is an inbuilt desire to return to the comfort of our pre-born amniotic beginnings, or connected to the fact that our bodies are predominantly made up of water, the evidence is clear- we are irresistibly drawn to water.

Holidays by the sea, weekends up at ‘The Lakes’ and walks along hillside torrents fill us with a sense of fulfilment and belonging. So strong is our need to be close to water that we bring some closer to home where it can comfort us each day. To an ‘outsider’, this may appear illogical, but on reflection, our desire is just as much a biological requirement as an aesthetic need, with our subconscious eager to make us feel complete. Nature seems to have left a hole in our psyche, and an oasis of water (particularly moving) appears to fill that void.

We can easily satisfy our craving for water by introducing features that bring the enchanting presence of movement into a garden or backyard. Flowing water adds an entirely new dimension — the sight and sound of it bubbling and sparkling as it catches the sunlight and tumbles from its source. The unpredictable paths it chooses create a constantly shifting display, accompanied by a natural soundtrack of gentle trickling, soft splashing and lively cascades as it gathers and settles into an effervescent pool below.

You have in your hands a one-stop practical guide to creating that back garden aquatic oasis. Use the step-by-step approach to guide you from the planning stage through to a balanced and mature pond, full of growing, healthy fish and plants.

At every stage of creating your own pond, you will be faced with many interesting choices, each with their own challenges and benefits. Be led by your own creativity, budget or instinct to create an aquatic feature that not only reflects your own image, but also your inspiration. You start with a clean slate, so let your imagination take over…