Can somebody provide an idiot's guide to garden ponds for a complete novice.

[Pernickety]

we inherited this pond when we bought the house last summer. It's got about 8 goldfish in it. we were going to rehome the goldfish and get rid of the pond but we've been persuaded to move it, which we've done. It's now in a much better spot in the garden. In the course of moving it we found 3 frogs and 8 newts. The previous owners of our house were rather lazy. They too had inherited the pond and the fish. The pump has not worked for years. There are no plants, other than overspill from the lawn, in the pond.

So, since we've gone to the trouble of moving the pond and are rather fond of the wildlife in there, what do we have to do to keep it alive and look after the pond?

Our pond is totally neglected, with a thick blanket of that floating green stuff with the tiny leaves. We do get frogspawn each year, and I know there are newts down in the depths, but I have no idea how to rejuvenate it.

MrsM - how did you clear it out? I'm worried if we bale out the water and scoop the inevitable muck off the bottom we will disturb all sorts of wildlife.