Attract wildlife to your garden pond

Give your pond the best chance of success by selecting the best possible site. Lots of sunshine will attract the widest range of creatures, but even shady ponds make good habitats for newts.

For a naturalistic effect, make a pond with an informal, curved outline. But a formal rectangular or square pond can still be wildlife friendly. Straight edges can easily be disguised with plants, both in and outside of the pond.

To attract the widest range of wildlife, create areas of shallow water (around 2-3cm deep), which are essential for the lifecycles of frogs, dragonflies and water beetles, and will also make it easier for creatures like hedgehogs and birds to bathe. Deeper areas (up to 1m) are essential too, as frogs overwinter in the muddy depths, breathing through their skin.

The following creatures are likely to use your pond:

Frogs

Frogs need ponds to breed and tadpoles will feed on the algae in the water. Create an area of plants where frogs can shelter, to provide valuable shade and cover from predators.

Birds

Birds will visit ponds to drink and to bathe. Keeping their feathers clean is essential, especially in winter, as damp feathers are easier to preen. Preening spreads oil and waterproofs feathers, insulating them from the cold.

Dragonflies

Dragonflies breed in water and need submerged pond plants for their developing larvae. Ideally, the pond should be in a sunny, but sheltered location.

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs can swim, but if they have no way out of the pond, they will become exhausted and die. Either create a gentle slope for access or lay a plank down as a ramp. Avoid pond netting, as it can trap hedgehogs.

Water invertebrates

Water invertebrates include water snails (pictured), pond skaters, which you'll see zipping across the pond's surface from April until autumn, and water boatmen, which live at the bottom of the pond and feed on plant debris and algae.

Newts

Newts lay their eggs on pond plants. Good varieties to include are water forget-me-nots, brooklime, watercress and reeds.

Kate Bradbury says

Give your pond a bit of a clear out in autumn, removing fallen leaves and other decaying plant material. Leave this at the side of the pond for a couple of days to allow creatures to return to the pond, and check it thoroughly before adding to the compost heap.