Ponds: Creating and Maintaining Ponds for Wildlife

There is no better way of creating a wildlife haven in your garden or plot of land than with a pond. These beautiful additions to any land are homes to some of our most important indigenous wildlife: plants, insects, fish, amphibians, birds and even mammals. A limpid pool with rushy margins, the humming of damselflies, the croaks of frogs and the swooping flight of swallows will be a microsite of the best of the countryside.

Pond expert Chris McClaren introduces the reader to the world of ponds: how to create one, how to maintain one and how to introduce wildlife to this idyllic pool and help it thrive. All your answers are answered here. What plants to plant that are indigenous and will have positive environmental impact? What cover to include around the pond so that it links to a suitable 'wildlife corridor'? What fish are sustainable in a pond of a small size? How can I make sure the pond is safe? What will the pond be like through the seasons?