After literally years talking about this, I finally have the beginnings of two large ponds in my garden. I wanted something big, to honour the size of the place, and because apparently no-one ever says “I wish my pond was a bit smaller”. I had originally thought of one huge pond crossed by an ornamental bridge. However, once I costed it all up it seemed pretty expensive, so I went for the next best thing; two ponds butting up against the original path, which will act as a sort of causeway and give great views of pond life as well as being a pretty special design feature.

Anyway, today Steve and Carl came with their diggers and made two enormous holes, accompanied by two equally huge piles of soil. I now need to measure up for two pond liners and also make final decisions about what to do with the banks of rather nice looking topsoil.

As this is such a large project I anticipate it will take months until completion. Not least because, with our water metered, I would like to fill it as far as possible with rainwater, which is of course also the best way to ensure that the water is of good quality to support wildlife. If we have a winter like last year, this shouldn’t be a problem, but I suspect that now that I am keen on rain we will have some dry months. Let’s take that as the ultimate flood prevention scheme, actually wishing for winter rain! I will divert water from the downpipes of the house and use the water in my many water butts around the vegetable garden, let’s see how that goes.

In the last few weeks I feel that I (and Nicola too!) have done more un-gardening than gardening! We have been clearing out the jungly and weedy growth to make way for new ideas and planting, as well as the large pond that is have planned. In some ways it is very satisfying, cutting back the scrub and weeds and letting more light into previously dark and over-grown areas. However it does feel a bit relentless at times and even destructive. I feel sad for the shrubs that were planted deliberately, but which got out of hand and have become woody and misshapen. I am not so sad for the relentless brambles and dogwood that are the bane of my life. It’s good to make such spectacular changes however and I know it will be wonderful when finished.

Here are the before and after pictures

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All of the leafy growth was taken down to the woods and turned into another ‘fedge’ between out plot and the neighbours’ to supplement the old hedgerow line. Good for wildlife and possibly a deterrent to deer.

The next phase is to get Steve in with his digger to dig the two large ponds each side of the path. I had thought of one large pond with a bridge, but the larger the pond the more expensive the liner and two ponds and a causeway instead of a bridge is more cost effective. After all I will need plenty of funds for the new planting.