Pond question, how would I do this? Or should I ?

[BigglyBee]

There is a hill in my garden and at the bottom of it there is a spring. There used to be a well nearby, but MrBee filled it in years ago.

The area around the spring is somewhere in between a bog and a pond. Perhaps "swamp" would be the correct word? It occasionally dries out, but not often and only in very prolonged hot spells (so not for a few years!). Nothing much grows there (other areas have orchids and cotton grass or sea pinks, which I would leave well alone, but not this part.). Would it be possible, or legal, to dig out a proper pond here? How would I line it? I would do most of the digging by hand, but have access to a small JCB if I need it.

I haven't decided that I definitely want to do this, but it is an idea that has been simmering for a while. Does this sort of thing need planning consent? The pond would be about 5 metres by 3 metres. I don't know about the depth. The underlying rock is igneous gneiss and the topsoil doesn't appear to be terribly deep.

Depends on your soil if it needs lining, but you can literally buy sheets of pond liner from a garden centre. I don’t think you need planning because the water is already there.

I’d probably try to have the spring running through the pond rather than off of it so it stays flowing without a pump.

Can you post any photos of it? Might actually be quite good habitat, especially if you have orchids and cottongrass nearby. How much water is there at the moment?

3m x 5m is kind of big. JCB for sure !! Sounds like a fun project to plan, do you want lots of wildlife or something more ornamental with fish, fountain, statues?

Sounds lovely, you could make it look very natural. I would avoid a liner if you can, which with a spring you may be able to.

I'll try to post pictures in the morning, it's a bit midgey out there tonight!

I haven't really thought about a style, I've only got as far as thinking about water lillies and debating allowing the ducks in (No, they make a massive mess!). Definitely no statues or fountains because there isn't really a budget for that. I hadn't considered fish, but there are both herons and sea eagles in the area, so probably not.

Sounds like a “flush”.

Usually a good habitat for more unusual sedges and mosses. So I’d be inclined to leave it alone, or contact your local botany group to confirm it really is without value ecologically.

That sounds sensible, I'll do that. If it's going to be off limits for pond purposes, I might be able to do something to improve it as a habitat for plants and animals.
And most importantly, it can live on as a fireside dreaming project! I think everyone needs to plan that one project that would transform everything, even if it never gets started. Elements of it can probably be put to use elsewhere as well.
I'll get hold of the Nature Conservancy Council people this week and see what they say.

I know for sure that in England farmers need pp for a large pond for wildlife purposes (but not for irrigation or livestock watering purposes which is mad) so I would be wary about going huge but 5.3 should be fine!
The key for wildlife, both plants and animals, is variety. The drying out isn't an issue, in fact ephemeral ponds and scrapes are really important.
So, wiggly edges, like an S shape, and changes in depth - deepest I would go is 1m in a small area, then just grade it out to the edges in a nice slope.
Lucky you.