Wildlife ponds, how to attract wildlife into your garden
For habitat-led projects with planting and biodiversity in mind, see our wildlife pond design service.
Ponds attract allsorts of wildlife
The pond will attract all sorts of wildlife. Dragonflies will find your pond quickly, Pond skaters and diving beetles will soon join new ponds. Birds will come bathe & drink in the water, you might even find foxes, badgers, deer, hedgehogs and other animals using your pond as a place to drink. Frogs, newts and toads will make their way to wildlife pond.
Sit back and watch the wildlife colonize the pond created in your own garden.
Pond location
Use natural features to your garden to your advantage. if you have a wet area use this for the bog plants.
Use a slope to make use of soil from the dig, or use it to build up the ground for a waterfall.
A sunny spot will attract the most wildlife to your pond but it also needs some shade from midday sun.
Avoid overhanging trees, falling leaves in as Autumn will be a problem.
Planting
Late spring & early summer are the best times to plant your wildlife pond, as the plants are just starting to grow and the water is not too cold. There are a few different categories of plants that are essential if your pond is going to become a wildlife haven.
Go for native species and avoid plants that will be rampant and take over the pond completely.
Oxygenators
• Curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
• Canadian Pondweed (Elodea canadensis) – as a last resort because it will take over completely
• Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
• Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
• Water Starwort (Callitriche spp.)
• Water Violet (Hottonia palustris)
Native water lilies:
• Amphibious bistort (Polygonum amphibium)
• Bistort (Polygonum amphibium)
• Broad-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton natans)
• White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)
• Yellow Water Llily (Nuphar lutea)
Marginal Plants:
• Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga)
• Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
• Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)
• Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquaticus)
• Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)
• Water Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
• Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)
• Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
• Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis)
• Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
• Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
