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  • Stagnant Wildlife pond

    So I found my plot has a wildlife pond. I found out by falling in it! It was completely covered by long grass.

    Problem is it smells stagnant. It has big tadpoles and a frog too.

    Should I leave it alone or put a plant in to help with oxygen?

    Thank you

  • #2
    If it's got frogs & taddies the water balance must be ok, I would tidy it up, maybe replace a bit of the water. Put something round it so nobody else falls in it..............thinking children & wildlife...........oh they're the same thing...............
    sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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    Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
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    Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
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    KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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    • #3
      If you are worried you can get solar powered Oxygenators quite cheaply.



      I got one off ebay for my comfrey water butt on Plot 1A and another from Power Bee which is better quality for my comfrey water butt on plot 23B
      Attached Files
      sigpic
      . .......Man Vs Slug
      Click Here for my Diary and Blog
      Nutters Club Member

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      • #4
        I've a feeling tadpoles aren't too fussy about water quality. A healthy pond needs a few oxygenating plants and maybe a lily or two, I think about three quarters of the pond needs plant cover but avoid duckweed at all costs, it grows at top speed and smothers ponds in no time.
        The best things in life are not things.

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        • #5
          They would have used a different pond for their spawn if that one wasn't suitable,they must like it there,well hidden. I used to have a newt,toad & frog here in my little water feature but never tadpoles,they did that in next doors huge pond they used to have. When I used to cut the grass it would take a long time brushing the grass to get the little ones to jump out the way before mowing. Some plants could repel flies,they must have lots of flies around stagnant water & mosquito larvae to eat.
          Location : Essex

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          • #6
            Thanks all. Sorry for the late reply, my phone kept losing signal and I couldn't post. I've brought some oxygenating pond weed (told to be careful as its prolific), but its a temporary measure till Autumn when the residents leave and I can give it a little maintenance. It clearly works well and I have the cutest baby frogs and big tadpoles that I guess are nearly ready to grow legs, so I won't be doing much to it. It has far too much grass that has fallen in it and I think its that that's smelly as it rots.

            Going to look at one of those solar powered Oxygenators they look cool.

            Thanks all

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            • #7
              oh and I saw a Newt! I've never seen one other than on TV before. It was running through the Raspberries towards the pond

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              • #8
                Sounds like you may be best leaving the water alone & just tidy round it. If the smell becomes too offensive just part change the water & net out any decaying matter in the bottom.
                sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                --------------------------------------------------------------------
                Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                -------------------------------------------------------------------
                Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                -----------------------------------------------------------
                KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                Comment


                • #9
                  Here is a before and after. For my own safety I cleared the edges so I could see where was safe to walk. I have now put some planks of wood across the middle as I robbed it of a bit of shade and was keen to give them some back.

                  They were taken on my phone so not too clear. The before is after I'd fallen in. I'd cleared a little in my descent so you can imagine how overgrown it was before. There is also a pic of the frog who was wondering what I heck I was doing.

                  Attached Files

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                  • #10
                    Is there any stones in there or something they can use to climb out of the pond,if a hedgehog fell in it might be difficult to get out?
                    Location : Essex

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                    • #11
                      Yep Although its too murky to see what levels there are in here, I gently slid a stick from the middle to the shallows. There do seem to be two long shelves, so I put a brick on each end which makes a little stair case for hedgehogs

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                      • #12
                        Every time I see a picture of a preformed pond I always feel the urge to ask if there's an escape route for hedgehogs. At the moment I'm pulling out native hornwort and frogbit from my small garden wildlife pond. Would a few bits travel well in the post??? Once my allotment is fenced off and some digging done I'm hoping to make another small pond on there too. Love my frogs

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