IN PRAISE OF PONDS
Why a water feature is a great choice for your garden and visiting wildlife
Abeautiful, well-designed garden is a joy for any homeowner, turning it from ‘that place outside the kitchen’ into a valuable extra space to enjoy with family and friends. But every room, indoors and out, needs a focal point, and a garden pond could be exactly what you’re looking for. Here are four reasons to get digging…
THEY LOOK GORGEOUS
A well-maintained pond is a thing of beauty – whether you go ‘naked’ and have a reflecting-pool-style pond with no interference from plants or fish, or you go full-on Titchmarsh and plant it up with flowers, ferns, water lilies and more
– it will quickly become your go-to place for botanical bliss. And as they change seasonally, there’s always something new to capture your attention, from fresh buds and frogspawn in the springtime to water-lily blooms in summer, right through to glittering frozen ice crystals during winter – just remember to use a floating de-icer to help oxygenate the pond if you’ve got fish in there.
THEY’RE ECOFRIENDLY
A good pond is a green pond (not in the algae sense), and they’re one of the most ecological things you can incorporate into your garden. The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society are urging people to get a pond as, they say, it can make a huge difference to saving local wildlife. Ponds provide a drinking hole for thirsty hedgehogs, a breeding ground for newts, frogs and toads, a bath for birds and a source of water for insects, such as dragonflies, mayflies and pond skaters, which in turn provide a meal for the birds. Plus, ponds are a great way to educate kids about nature through the seasons, while caring for the environment, and all without having to leave the comfort of your own garden.
THEY’RE GOOD FOR US
Water is life… it covers more than 70 per cent of the earth’s surface and makes up around 60 per cent of our body weight, so it comes as no surprise that we have a deep-rooted psychological and biological bond to the wet stuff. Numerous studies have shown that just being near water helps to soothe us, so if you’re not blessed with a sea- or riverside home, then creating your own water feature, aka a pond, in your garden could be an absolute boon. Bump up the wellness factor with a waterfall or fountain for that oh-so-relaxing sound of running water, or add some fish – it’s thought that watching them swim around can help reduce stress and even lower blood pressure. Bonus point – creating and maintaining the perfect pond is a year-round hobby, giving you a reason to get out and get active.
THEY’RE SUPER-PRACTICAL
As well as looking good, ponds do good too. For starters, they help reflect light around the garden, brightening it up on even the dullest day so, when planning its location, make sure to choose a sunny spot. Ponds also help to moderate temperature in the garden by slowly releasing the warmth captured from the sun’s rays. This explains why they don’t always ice over even when it’s below freezing, keeping things nice and toasty for the plants and wildlife surrounding the pond, as well those living in it. They also help to conserve water, as not only do ponds act as a natural water butt for rain and run-off, but because of the space they take up they reduce the amount of grass and plants that need watering. In times of drought or hosepipe bans, you can also use water from the pond to hydrate precious blooms. And, should you decide to sell, a pond can add pounds to your bank account as they have been shown to increase the value of a property by making the garden more attractive to potential buyers.