New pond
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:25 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how nature takes advantage of any new habitat. Three weeks ago I lined and filled a 2m x 3m pond and splash pool (I intend to build a filter pond above with a waterfall into the splash pool to assist aeration when the pond is established). We then went on holiday and left things to settle, (Chlorine dispersal etc). I had some canadian pond weed (elodea) on order too which arrived just prior to our going away, so the pond had about 4 days before anything else went in it.
Fast forward a couple of weeks:
After much heckling from my step daughter aged 10, I agreed to purchase 4 small Koi for the bigger pond. While acclimatising them to the pond, I noticed movement on the bottom...there was the biggest water boatman beetle I have seen since I was a lad, easily 2cms from head to tail. I know for a fact that it wasn't in the weed, because it came as a sealed pack of 10 strands in a clear bag which was placed in the splash pool.
Just as we were releasing the fish into the pond, a frog leapt away from his hiding place under a fold in the liner (to my certain knowledge there aren't any other ponds for 200metres in any direction). We're all delighted that wildlife has taken such an early liking to the new environment and my step daughter will try to keep a log of any new additions.
Fast forward a couple of weeks:
After much heckling from my step daughter aged 10, I agreed to purchase 4 small Koi for the bigger pond. While acclimatising them to the pond, I noticed movement on the bottom...there was the biggest water boatman beetle I have seen since I was a lad, easily 2cms from head to tail. I know for a fact that it wasn't in the weed, because it came as a sealed pack of 10 strands in a clear bag which was placed in the splash pool.
Just as we were releasing the fish into the pond, a frog leapt away from his hiding place under a fold in the liner (to my certain knowledge there aren't any other ponds for 200metres in any direction). We're all delighted that wildlife has taken such an early liking to the new environment and my step daughter will try to keep a log of any new additions.
