A Pond Garden in the Vale of Glamorgan

The client in this garden had installed an above ground swimming pool many years previously, but now the children had grown up and the lining had deteriorated, we proposed converting it into a natural pond; that is, a pond that you can still swim in, but will not use chemicals so will also support plants and wildlife.

For natural ponds to remain clear of algae, it's important to circulate the water and filter it through gravel where plant roots will take up all nutrients. This creates an environment where pond weeds won't thrive, but frogs, newts, pond skaters, dragonflies and plants rooted in the gravel will certainly benefit.

For this pond we re-used the old swimming pool pump as it was still functional, but also installed an air pump as an alternative as it operates much more efficiently and cheaply. Hidden beneath the tranquil water is a complicated network of pipes doing all the work! We also used the old pool pump to feed fountains that can be adjusted from pump house.

The plot itself is beautifully poised on the edge of the garden as it gives way to rural landscape and this position influenced the planting which starts formal and gradually relaxes and becomes more predominantly native as it approaches the field behind.