The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust

You are in: Campaigns > Dragons in your Garden > Enhancing > Ponds
Small garden pond (c) Wendy SabineDragons in your Garden

Enhancing your garden: Wildlife ponds

Amphibians need ponds in which to lay their eggs, so if you want to attract frogs, toads and newts the best thing you can do is create a pond.  Grass snakes may also visit gardens with ponds, in search of amphibian prey.

Top tips for digging a pond:

Position
Choose a sunny position, away from overhanging trees and shrubs.  Some shade is good but if a pond is too cold plants will have difficulty growing and tadpoles may not develop.

 Design
Include a shallow area around the pond which will help aquatic plants grow and help frogs to get in and metamorphosing froglets to get out.

 Depth
Make sure you have a section at least 60cm deep so that resident frogs are not frozen in icy periods - some male frogs like to sit out the winter on the bottom of the pond.

 Surroundings
Avoid surrounding the pond with paving slabs as emerging froglets can stick to these in hot weather and subsequently dry up. If you are using them make sure there is also planting right up to the edge of the pond to create cool, damp areas.

 Water
If you're using tap water to fill your pond, then allow it to stand for a day or two first. If you have a water butt in your garden then fill the pond with rain water; you can also use this to top up the pond in very hot weather.

 Plants
Stock the pond with a mixture of native aquatic plants; avoid non-native species at all costs - many are invasive and potentially damaging. Choose a selection of floating, submerged and marginal plants.

 Safety
If you have small children and are concerned about their safety around a pond there are measures you can take to make a pond safe but so that it can still be beneficial to wildlife. More information. >>>




Dragons in your Garden funders


Training courses are being run for the Million Ponds Project in 2010. Please click HERE for details.  Volunteer today Volunteer today

arc_map