Siting a pond on a sloping garden

Ah? Toads don't overwinter in my ponds, but frogs and newts do. What you've experienced with freezing bears out what I wrote. Between 12" and 24" would be safe enough. 24" would stay cooler in summer

 

I think Belgium must be more like the UK than Aquitaine, winter-wise! Our summers are hotter than the UK though....

We have a cellar, which now can only be accessed from enclosed outside steps. If we need to get (more) wine in during the winter, we have to be very, very careful on the steps, especially on the way back up. Not just because we are carrying wine , but because there are frogs, toads (different types) and newts nestled on each of the steps. I’m glad to say the snakes and slow-worms prefer the compost, although there are numerous frogs and toads there too...

 

Well blow that for a game of soldiers! The most slippery thing I have to contend with when re-stocking the liquid supplies is a muddy slope You're serious? Frogs and toads and newts live with snakes? For how long?

 

I think “live” is an interesting description....

For the cellar steps - there are the leggy amphibians, but no snakes .
The slow-worms live in the compost bays, normally near the base of the finished bay, so I often find them as I empty the bay for the garden. The frogs and toads tend to overwinter in “runs” nearer the top of the bays. I’m assuming that there are grass-snakes too, as I’ve found shed skins. They may not overlap in timings ?

 

Not for long Do you get mole crickets in the compost too?
Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à https://www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos144/big/dscf5641.jpg.jpg

 

No - never seen anything like that!

I was starting to doubt the overwintering in ponds v shelter, so I googled a little...
Frog House DIY Plans - The RSPB

Whilst doing this, I looked up the garden to the pond - where a pair of mallards were feeding ... There was then a stand-off with a heron , who was also thinking about dinner. He flew off in disgust, when he saw the ducks !!

When I put a mere 2x3 metre pond in, I never dreamed of such large feathered visitors.... I’m now keeping my eyes peeled for a kingfisher!!

 

This photo of a 5 week old pond popped up in my Facebook feed. So of course, I went out and took one for comparison.

I think it is safe to say that the pond is established!! (Water level is v low at the moment, but we have heavy rain forecast for the next 48 hours, so I will hold back on topping it up)

a very similar position for the photo, although taken in the afternoon, rather than the morning.

An example of the wildlife that we now have - this broad-backed chaser flew into the lounge this morning…

 

I thought people might be interested in seeing how the wildlife pond is settling in....

As you can see, we have a very lush pond! It takes a bit of effort to keep the pebble “designated bathing area” clear of the watermint, but I need to know that any mammals can get out easily


This angle illustrates the slope that the pond is cut into


the view of the pond from the bench above it, looking down the garden


And from the drive side, showing the bench, with the logs and “warming stones” for the midwife toads


We have lots of wildlife that uses the pond. Birds come in to bathe regularly, rooks bring dried bread that neighbours put out, soaking the bread in the water, before taking it out again to eat it. Any bread that they leave behind in the water is quickly surrounded by the various ‘poles. We have frogs, toads and newts in the pond, so I never know what the ‘poles are, unless it is later in the summer, when they have to be from the midwife toads…

We have large red and various blue damselflies, as well as dragonflies, (mainly broad backed chasers, southern hawkers and an occasional emperor). There is a constant buzzz as bees, wasps and other insects drink from the stones and moss around the edge.

It is interesting how the pond plants creep out into the surrounding soil. Bog bean, water-mint, cinquefoil, small rush, loosestrife and even mare’s tail takes a wander into the edge, whilst the moss, grass and geranium sanguinium ventures over the water.

All in all, I love it! I can’t imagine me ever putting in a stone-surround pond again. The water is leached out more, because of the syphoning affect of the moss, but it is just how I hoped it would be…

 

I'm not in the slightest bit envious . It looks just stunning , well done on all your hard work.