Our Wildlife Pond.

In a few weeks the wildlife pond made by my Extremely Handsome Son George will be looking resplendent, but right now it looks murky and uninviting.  But note the chair. EHS George has been sitting quietly observing.

We are disappointed that no frog or toad spawn has appeared in the pond this year. Last year we put some in from another pond and we had hundreds of tadpole’s hatch and grow well. Little frogs and toads galore. We thought we would be sure to have our own spawn this year, but it doesn’t seem likely now. There are frogs in the water but no mating taking place. We have concluded, rightly or wrongly, that last year’s babies are too young to mate. Maybe next year? Not all is lost however because the wildlife pond he made in Tricia’s garden does have spawn in it. Although there was always a small pond there previously and the inhabitants obviously stayed.



The good news is we have the endangered Great Crested Newt in the pond. EHS was excited to discover this last summer and they are back again. There are also lots of Common Newts. Good news considering the pond is not yet even four years old.

Two years ago, we introduced a few Minnows and Sticklebacks that we caught in a nearby stream. Within a very short time we had thousands of them. George is now convinced they have no place in a wildlife pond. Last year he saw them eating tadpoles. He is currently doing his best to capture them and return them to the stream. One of the photos shows a couple of fish traps he has purchased. I feel guilty because I think it was my suggestion to introduce the fish. Well, I thought they would be perfect in a wildlife pond. What a daft mistake. Lesson learned there. Seems odd, but fish have no place in a wildlife pond. I hope they have not caused too much devastation to the dragonfly eggs that I watched being laid last summer?

A pair of Mallards regularly drop in for a swim around. I have seen a Heron and once excitingly a Little Egret came for a look.

I will take more photos later in the year to show how abundantly the plants are growing around the pond edge.