Build a minipond
Whether it's a mini-pond in an old washing up bowl or a watery wonderland for frogs and toads at the end of your garden, you can make a haven for nature in your outdoor space.
This Helping Nature activity can be completed as part of Schools or Families Wild Challenge.
Water brings a magical quality to your garden and is the key to life for so many creatures that live there. It's easy to create a very small pond out of something like an old washing up bowl, so you can have a mini pond in any sized garden. If you’ve got more space to spare, building a large pond is a rewarding challenge for you and a gift for wildlife.
It's exciting to watch Pond Skaters, Water Lice (they look like long-legged underwater woodlice), Freshwater Shrimps, and if you’re lucky, a few damselflies darting around the water. You might even see a bird having a bath.
You can build a pond at any time of year, but autumn is ideal for larger ponds as the ground isn't too wet or dry and is perfect for digging.
Instructions
Step one: Find or buy a large container
It will need to be watertight, like a half-barrel, an old water tank or even a large washing-up bowl. It needs to be able to withstand the rigours of being outside, especially frosts.
