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Ponds
Quick answer
A fence or pond grille will make a pond completely safe, or a
raised pond is a good alternative.
Further
information
Froglife believes that filling-in ponds should always be a last
resort, since the damage this can do to wildlife communities
locally can be enormous. Ponds can be made safe by following the
points outlined below:
This includes large plant pots, tub-ponds, paddling pools,
swimming pools and garden ponds; many more drownings occur in water bodies other than ponds.
Encourage children at every opportunity to respect water. This
will benefit many children as they grow and could have wider
positive impact.
The fence can be made of strong wood, unclimbable grating or
vertical railings no more than 10cm apart; it should be at least
1.1m high. Don't forget to leave a small gap between the ground
and fence to allow wildlife access. A childproof, lockable gate
should also be installed. Some people find willow-fencing more
aesthetically pleasing.
A rigid mesh or grille across the pond creates a secure over
which wildlife can still get through.
The grille needs to be able to support the weight of a child and
should remain above the surface of the water at all times.
Garden centres stock grates and newer products are easy to
install.
Gently sloping sides are important for wildlife and for people
should they fall in and need to get out easily. An alternative
to a 'traditional' pond is a raised or free-standing pond - if
you decide to go down this route simply make sure there wildlife
can still access the water by building up logs and pebbles on
the outside and inside of the pond.
You could consider many of the points above as temporary
measures while children are smaller. Once children are older you
can remove many of these features, promoting the pond as a place
for enjoying and learning about the natural world.
Filling in a
pond.
Pond alternatives.
Just Add Water.
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