Bird bath, or container pond?

[Imicola]

I have this old sheep trough in my garden, as a bird bath (with a rock for access). It's in a partial shade part of the garden. What do you think... would it make a better bird bath, or pond?

The two aren’t mutually exclusive

If you filled it, you’d have a pond, but the birds could still stand on the flat of the stone to bathe. It’s nicely situated with cover adjacent for emerging frogs

Good point, a pond is also good as a bird bath! My preference is to add some pond plants...I thought it might help it look less like stagnant water and would also be better for wildlife. My DH is not convinced (but to be honest he wasn't convinced about transporting the trough to the garden at all, even when the plan was just a bird bath!)

As an alternative options, a small bog garden. It would also be suitable for growing something like mint that can otherwise be a bit too vigorous if not contained.

I always liked the idea of a bog garden, but half my garden is like a bog most of the time and not in a good way!

I went for it! Fingers crossed it does well.