Nature pond advice

[AGnu]

I'm creating a small (max. 1x1.5m) pond in my garden & had intended to only stock it with native plants. The aim of the pond is to support local wildlife, rather than be particularly ornamental. I had intended to have a water lily because it sounds like that would be useful for various animals but my research suggests that the native alba variety needs a bigger pond.

Given that I have to compromise, do I forget the water lily idea & stick to other native plants or should I get a smaller, non-native variety on the basis that it would be beneficial to native wildlife?! Anyone want to decide for me?

I'm also planning a bog garden around the edge... Does anyone have any advice about growing native sundew or butterworts? I wasn't planning on a peat bog. Can these be grown in pots? I saw somewhere advocating growing butterworts in crevices between rocks at the pond edge - how would I do that? Squish some peat soil or sphagnum moss in the gap first?

My main concern about having a pond is an increase in gnats/mosquitos etc. My DC have been pestering me for a pond for ages - they're little eco-warriors & want to do anything they can to support nature. I'm hoping I can plant some carnivorous plants around to help with the problem. My neighbour had a v neglected pond when we moved in & we knew there was a section of our garden to avoid because of the flies. Am hoping to avoid that!

Check out Hydrocharis Morsus- Ranae also called Frogbit it's a nice little water Lily type pond plant, if it goes too mad you can just hoik bits off. Make sure your pond is deep enough so that it doesn't freeze in winter otherwise any wildlife in it will freeze too. You should soon have frogs etc arriving soon enough. Hornwort( oxygenator) and water moss are good also. Get the oxygenators in and don't add too many other plants too soon. Also buy from reputable pond companies. Do NOT add water soldiers as they will go mental as we found out

I'd steer clear of the water lily altogether and go for something like water forget-me-not - it will provide water surface shade, and ours is always full of newt eggs.

Does anyone have any advice about growing native sundew or butterworts? Where would you get them from? Does anyone supply them? Problem with both is that they'd struggle in a high nutrient soil. You might be able to get Utricularia (bladderwort) but again I think it's only non-native species being sold.

If you have frogs, newts or dragon- and damsel-fly larvae you won't get mosquitoes. No need for carnivorous plants if you have carnivorous animal life.

I have a small nature pond.

My number one advice would be do not site in full sun else it will be constantly full of algae (like mine!)

Mine is planted with native water milfoil in the water and then water forget me not, purple loosestrife and some native self seeded weed, can't remember the name of it now, its tall with pink flowers.

Initially it bred lots of mosquitoes yes but now it's full of newts and dragon flies and water beetles and all sorts and we never see a mozzie.

My number one advice would be do not site in full sun else it will be constantly full of algae Not sure how true that is. Mine's in full sun and yes, in some years I get blanket weed, but most algae problems are down to water quality - too much nutrient. Try not to top up with tap water.

I have 6 ponds all different sizes and all in full sun, some get blanket weed others don't.

I have just created my pond with exactly the same plan. I'm going to be using frogbit and arrowhead.

Be warned - I now sit for hours just watching the water to see what else has arrived. The birds are quite irritated that I come anywhere near as it's obviously their new spot to be and I know that a hedgehog is visiting too. It's currently my favourite bit of the garden and can't believe I survived without one for so long.