https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r Pond en-us 2018-03-14 07:43:59 UTC 2018-07-04 11:14:01 UTC hello@padlet.com MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241769195 We are reshaping our pond so that we can make it bigger and deeper. We are doing this so that our new pond is safer for our wildlife and so that we have more area for pond dipping.]]> 2018-03-14 09:41:36 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241769195 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241778670 Our first step was to empty the pond. Whilst we were doing this we had to make sure that we were careful with any creatures we found. We put them in containers full of pond water so that when the pond is full again, we can put the creatures back into the pond.]]> 2018-03-14 10:11:23 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241778670 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241779057 Once the pond was emptied our next step was to remove the liners. When we removed the first layer, we found a puddle on the second layer, so we had to empty this before removing the second layer of lining.]]> 2018-03-14 10:12:32 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241779057 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241781423 Once the liner was removed, we found a layer of carpet. This needed to be removed but would only come out in chunks as it had degraded.]]> 2018-03-14 10:20:40 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241781423 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241782710 Once everything had been removed, it was time to start reshaping the pond. We knew this would be a lengthy process. The first step was to plan where we were going to dig.]]> 2018-03-14 10:24:51 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241782710 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241784375 Once we had decided our shape and where to dig we began digging. The first step was to take the top layer off, and then we decided how deep we wanted our pond to be at each point.]]> 2018-03-14 10:29:54 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241784375 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241786170 In February the snow made it difficult for us to get anything done, so we had to wait until March to continue. We were able to dig deeper and our pond was starting to come together.]]> 2018-03-14 10:35:45 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241786170 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241796103 We dug a deep hole at one end, so that if the pond were to freeze there would still be space for the creatures to live. The rest of the pond we made more shallow so that creatures, like hedgehogs, could find their way out if they were to ever fall in.]]> 2018-03-14 11:11:12 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241796103 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241800023 Once we had finished digging, the pond had to be flattened so that the water won't overflow. Once the pond is flat, we can then add the sand, carpet and lining. We used a spirit level to make sure that the pond was level.]]> 2018-03-14 11:23:14 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241800023 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241805722 It had rained over the weekend, and when we returned to the pond we found that frogs had laid their frogspawn in the puddles. We carefully removed it from the puddles and placed it into the containers.]]> 2018-03-14 11:40:07 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/241805722 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269366926 Once the pond was levelled, we added a layer of sand and carpet. We chose to do this so that when we put the liner in, it would be protected from any sharp stones within the soil.]]> 2018-07-04 10:32:59 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269366926 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269367082 We then lay the liner over the pond and added water. The weight of the water ensured that the liner sunk into all of the crevices.]]> 2018-07-04 10:34:40 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269367082 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269367957 We decided to add a small log to allow larger creatures, such as hedgehogs, to climb in and out of the pond when they need a drink.]]> 2018-07-04 10:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269367957 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368470 2018-07-04 10:48:59 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368470 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368493 We added oxygenators into the pond so that they will create more oxygen for the creatures.]]> 2018-07-04 10:49:16 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368493 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368602 We added a layer of pebbles around one edge of the pond to make it easier for insects to drink from the pond. They also create hiding spots for some of the pond creatures.]]> 2018-07-04 10:50:54 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269368602 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369029 Once we had finished constructing our pond, it was time to add the creatures back in. Unfortunately, the water from our old pond was contaminated with pond algae. We wanted to remove the algae from the water so we could release the tadpoles into our new pond without any of the algae getting in.]]> 2018-07-04 10:55:48 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369029 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369558 Once we had removed the tadpoles from the old pond water, we were able to release them into their new home.]]> 2018-07-04 11:02:37 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369558 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369739 We then planted some marginal plants around the edge. When these grow they will create a shaded area within the pond.]]> 2018-07-04 11:04:53 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269369739 MissVoisey https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269370170 Here is our finished pond! As you can see, we also added some concrete slabs to make pond dipping safer and easier. Although this was a lengthy process, we have really enjoyed it. We hope the children and creatures enjoy our new pond.]]> 2018-07-04 11:10:13 UTC https://padlet.com/MissVoisey/se0v4bzsqc5r/wish/269370170