The Royal Horticultural Society say that over the last hundred years or so, almost 70% of natural ponds had disappeared from the UK landscape, so a garden pond can, not only enhance your garden but can help to support wildlife, whose habitat is otherwise diminishing. A garden pond will naturally attract wildlife.

Once you have decided to create a pond there are several decisions that need to be made before you cut a turf. Where in the garden will it be, how big can it be, what shape and style do you want? Will your pond be raised up from ground level or dug into the ground?

A pond can be any shape or size you want it to be, but ideally should blend in with the rest of your garden, because it will be an integral part of that garden as it matures. If your garden is of a more formal design, you may want to look at a pond which reflects that in its construction and keep to uniform shapes. Round, square or rectangular shapes may be more sympathetic to a more formal garden in which these shapes already exist, with any surrounding arears matching the uniform shape of the pond. A less formal garden will happily accept a pond of an irregular shape surrounded by a less structured, more natural interface with the existing garden.

Ideally your pond should be in an area of the garden where it will be in part shade as this helps reduce problems with algae. It will also give fish and wildlife an area where they can escape the heat associated with direct sunlight on a hot summer’s day. Conversely, the part not in the shade will ensure the water warms quickly in spring, making it more attractive to spawning frogs and toads. However, it should also ideally, not be situated directly under a large deciduous tree, which may drop leaves and possibly blossom or berries which could prove to be poisonous to fish, into the pond, Areas of deep shade should also be avoided.

Wherever you decide to site your pond make sure there is enough space, not only for the pond itself, but for any surrounding finishes you may want to lay around the pond. The best way to do this is to lay down a piece of rope, hose or garden canes to match the proposed size and shape of the pond and see how that fits in with the surrounding garden. Another point worth bearing in mind if you are digging down to around a metre for a large pool, is to be wary of underground pipes and cables, especially if using machinery.

It is probably true to say that the motivation for many ponds installed in UK gardens is that of having fish in the pond as well as attracting wildlife and this must have an effect on how you plan out the pond. For a fish pond you ideally want an area of around 5 square metres, with a capacity of approximately 300 litres, although if you are planning the pond for Koi you will need more volume and depth in your pond as they are much bigger fish. For wildlife, you may want to have a graduated depth in your pond ranging from a few centimetres to a depth of 60 centimetres, more for Koi. It is important to have deep-water areas in your pond to prevent rapid fluctuations in water temperature as the weather and the seasons change. Constant, significant temperature changes can put fish under stress.

The size of the pond should not necessarily be governed solely by the size of the garden, although that must be one of the main considerations. A large pond in a small garden might look odd, so do try to keep it in proportion. That said, a compact garden should not dissuade you from having a pond, as it can be as small as a large plant pot or similar. There are a number of ‘Pond in a Pot’ kits on the market which come with everything you will need to set up a small pond in your garden, patio or even on a balcony.

Pond kits are available from various retailers by visiting either their premises or websites. These range from the aforementioned ‘Pond in a Pot’ kits through to full sized Koi ponds up to 65,000 litres, complete with timber structures, liners and all other parts required for self assembly. Otherwise you can choose the real DIY route and opt for the choice of a rigid, preformed, plastic or fibreglass pond or a flexible liner made from PVC, butyl rubber, or Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).

With the rigid preformed liner you can choose from a range of sizes. There is little to choose between the plastic and fibreglass liners, both of which are very strong and will last about 15 years. Dig out the hole for the pond, slightly larger than the pond itself, as you will want to put in a layer of damp sand to ensure that the liner is properly supported. Make regular checks to ensure that your pond liner is level by using a piece of timber and a spirit level. Always check that there are no large stones protruding once you have finished digging, then use a combination of wooden wedges and sand to fully support the liner, bearing in mind that your liner is rigid, so it should be held in place all over.

If you opt for a flexible liner, polythene is the least expensive option, but does not have the longevity of the other materials and is more easily punctured. The other materials are all stronger and can last three or four times longer. Butyl rubber is the best option, lasting up to 20 years, but it is understandably the most expensive. Being flexible, this liner will mould itself to the shape of the hole you dig, so before you start digging, have a plan as to the depth and shape of the pond you want. Dig out the hole to the required shape, check for protruding stones or sharp objects and get rid of any you find, then lay a layer of damp sand or an underlay before you lay the liner. Hold the liner in place with heavy stones or bricks and begin to fill with water. As the weight of the water affects the shape of the liner, gently pull it at the edges to remove as many creases as possible, then leave the pond partially filled for 24 hours before filling completely.

Last but not least, once the pond is full and you are happy with your project to that point, you can lay your preferred edging, be it slabs, gravel or grass, making sure to leave as little of the pond liner visible as possible. All that then remains is to plant your pond with a variety of plants and flowers which will not only look good in the pond but will help to keep the water clean and aerated which will benefit you and any fish you choose to have in the pond.

It is worth noting at this stage, that building a pond is not an easy task and care needs to be taken in its construction. Every precaution must be taken to avoid any defects that could possibly lead to the liner leaking, as repairing that leak would mean disturbing the plants and the fish while you empty the pond to effect the repair.

With a project like this, if you feel that you have not got either the skills or the time to undertake the work yourself, it is always worth considering getting professional assistance. and check that any contractor you may engage with has all the necessary experience and insurances in place to ensure a trouble free project.

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