Make space for frogs and pond life

Add water safely, provide cover and connect damp habitats around your garden.

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Why it matters

A wildlife pond can be small. The key is to include shallow edges, varied depths, nearby cover and an easy route in and out for animals.

Step by step

Make it happen.

Choose the right position

Aim for a spot with a mixture of sun and shade, away from large overhanging trees that could fill the water with leaves.

Build a gentle edge

Use stones, gravel or a planted shelf to form a gradual slope. Wildlife must be able to leave the water easily.

Add suitable plants

Use a mixture of submerged, floating and marginal pond plants. Avoid taking plants or animals from wild ponds.

Create nearby cover

Logs, rocks, damp planting and long grass give amphibians safe routes and cool hiding places beyond the pond itself.

Keep it wild. Keep it safe.

Let wildlife arrive in its own time.

Use responsibly sourced plants and materials, avoid moving animals from the wild, and always build in safe access and escape routes. The best habitat is one that can settle, change and become part of the wider garden.

Keep exploring

One small change can open a whole new world.

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