Garden pond ideas – 10 ways to create a wildlife-friendly and soothing water feature Having some kind of water feature in your garden adds a whole new dimension to your outdoor space. Garden pond ideas bring aesthetic appeal and tranquility, plus they’re one of the best ways you can support local wildlife. Whether you have a large and verdant lawn or a small urban garden, there are plenty of options for creating a soothing pond you can enjoy. Garden pond ideas First, you’ll need to decide whether to go big or small, neat and spherical or a curvy and natural form. Whatever you go for when bringing this garden idea to life, adding a pond is a sure-fire way to make your garden more interesting. There are lots of ways to create an eye-catching pond that will give a classic feel to your garden while providing a habitat and breeding ground for wildlife. Dip your toe in with our garden pond ideas and expert tips. 1. Create a makeshift, mini pond Image credit: Alamy Ponds are a fabulous wildlife garden idea, making a brilliant home for lots of insects, birds, hedgehogs, and bats. Keep things really simple and create a mini pond with an old plastic container, fish tank, or even an old sink as seen in the picture above. This could also be a lovely activity for kids. You can either leave the container outside or dig a small hole in the ground so that your mini pond is at ground level. Fill it with clean kids’ sand, stones, and gravel. You could also add some pond plants and a ramp made from a small piece of wood or cane to help animals like hedgehogs and birds get in and out. 2. Go formal with a regency style pond and fountain Image credit: Haddonstone If the new series of Bridgerton has inspired you to bring a regency-inspired look to your home and garden, a pond could be the way to go. Water features are a pivotal focal point for all regency-style gardens and you also get the benefit of the soothing sound of water. ‘We’ve seen every type of garden water feature over the years,’ comments Crown Pavilions. The luxury garden room and gazebo company says that garden pond ideas don’t have to be grand to be noteworthy. ‘Creating a small, circular pond with a single tier, regency style stone fountain will bring a touch of serenity and elegance to any garden,’ says Crown Pavilions. 3. Use rainwater Image credit: Getty images / Masaho / Ishisa Make the most of rainy weather and leave your pond to fill up with rainwater. Although it might take a bit of patience, depending on the size of your pond, this is actually the best way to do it. No garden hoses are needed as tap water contains chemicals that could be harmful to wildlife. 4. Install a raised pond Image credit: Colin Poole A hassle-free option is to install a raised pond. They often come in wood, brick, or paving and are fairly easy to assemble. It creates a lovely spot to perch and creates a striking feature. One other positive is that you might even be able to take it with you if you move house! 5. Plant around the edge Image credit: Polly Eltes Plant marginal plants, which grow happily on the edge of ponds or in shallow areas. These will help your pond to blend in with the rest of your garden and look like it’s always been there. Try growing flowering rush or rich purple Japanese iris on some ledges around your pond or in the shallowest parts. Also, it’s worth thinking about which plants will look good overhanging the pond – a lovely Acer or plant with striking foliage will reflect beautifully off the water’s surface and create shadows. 6. Keep things shallow for wildlife Image credit: Crown Pavilions When it comes to how deep your pond should be, it depends on whether the pond is for your own enjoyment or primarily for wildlife. If you’re installing a pond to complement existing sustainable garden ideas, you’ll want to keep things relatively shallow. A shallow pond with some cover will soon attract local wildlife from water beetles and bees to frogs and dragonflies. If you want to keep Koi in your pond, they will need a depth of around 4-5 feet. 7. Create a pond walkway with stepping stones Image credit: Getty images / glegorly If you’re after relaxing and zen garden ideas, garden ponds are a really good option. For a playful touch that’s also very practical for moving around your garden, add a few stepping stones. This will create a super calming and immersive outdoor space that invites visitors to explore. 8. Build a pond just for you Image credit: Getty images / Eirasophie A garden pond will give you hours of enjoyment and a chance to observe nature. According to Samantha Richards from Gazeboshop, adding a large water feature is all about personal enjoyment and could in fact make your home harder to sell. Some buyers might see a feature such as a Koi pond as a red flag, as it does have significant ongoing maintenance costs, from water and chemicals to fish food and electricity. Unlike some garden updates that can add value to your home, such as space for home bars and garden rooms, a garden pond is something you can do for the pure fun of it. We love how a pond has been incorporated into the outdoor seating area and pathway above. 9. Add a modern water feature Image credit: Solus Decor Because nothing soothes the soul like the gentle trickling of a fountain, why not add a water feature? This spherical water bowl brings character and a modern look. This fountain has a small chute that the water can flow through into your pond, keeping it well oxygenated. 10. Light it up Image credit: Feuerhand Enjoy your outdoor space…

The post Garden pond ideas – 10 ways to create a wildlife-friendly and soothing water feature first appeared on Freelance Photographer in Dubai, UAE.