Back in 2020, our Come Forth for Wildlife team were working in Falkirk creating Neighbourhood Wildlife Corridors which are small features for wildlife that connect gardens to country parks and nature reserves (these are key in keeping our amphibian and reptile populations safe).
One particular household asked our team if it was possible to have a wildlife pond built, but to have some kind of prevention to discourage their dog from taking a swim. Staff member Chris leapt into action and started thinking up some ideas. Eventually, Chris settled on a small fence surrounding the pond which wasn’t accessible for the family dog, but left enough space for wildlife to get through.
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I think we can all agree that this pond was definitely a success. You don’t even need to use commercial fencing, you can use alternatives such as willow fencing or thick hedges to keep your canine friends out of your wildlife pond.
Don’t have the space or money for fencing? There are even more ideas that you can use to protect your pond:
- Build a raised or ‘tub pond’
- Strong mesh (5cm squared or more) dug into the ground
- Netting (more 5cm squared or more) pulled tight and staked to prevent wildlife becoming tangled.
- You can even get fancy with some pond covers from your local garden centre
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For more information on building a wildlife pond, read our Just Add Water guide.
You can also find out more information on our #pawsagainstponds campaign here.