Mini wildlife pond - what container to use?

[Tealfish]

Have any of you created a mini wildlife pond? I want to put something in my garden but won't be able to dig down so needs to be a container of some sort. I also won't be able to put a pump in it (no electric near where I want to site) so what have you put in it to avoid it becoming a container of stagnant water? Any photos gratefully received for inspiration :) Thank you

I can tell you what I've done but I'm not much of an authority.

I got a big plastic pot from B&M that doesn't have drainage holes in it. In the bottom I put half a cracked terracotta pot to create a sloped beach for creatures to get in and out.

I bought a starter kit of pot pond plants that includes an oxygenator. With oxygenating plants you don't need a pump. In fact it's better for wildlife if you don't have one.

Make sure you include a ramp for anything that falls in the pond to get out (eg hedgehogs) and build up at least one side so creatures can get in and out. Make sure there are plants nearby for amphibians to hide in.

Mostly my pond has only grown mosquito larvae so far 🤣🤣🤣 but I have swifts that nest in the boxes I put up for them in the eaves so am happy to grow insects for them. There were a lot of dragonflies about last year but no idea if they came from my pond. The birds drink from it and bathe in it, and I once spotted a frog in it (no spawn yet sadly)

I have a little one of these
https://www.woodblocx.co.uk/raised-wooden-garden-ponds?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S0TxWXenmskBnkEAiQXd2iYZ9sLO7ai6I1Rxe_poX3mdw9KmH2pIwRoC4qQQAvD_BwE

I love it.

Here’s my wildlife pond. Put plenty of oxygenating plants in it and just let it be. I occasionally top it up with rainwater in the summer. It attracts frogs, dragonflies, birds come to drink from it.
When you first start it up buy some water neutraliser to rid the pond of chlorine.

@GenerousGardener your pond is so pretty - is that a miniature water lily I can see? Did you buy this as a kit?

I'm not a gardener but heard this episode of GW and it was very interesting and they spoke about containers for ponds

@Turkeyhen yes it was a Kit. Everything came with the container except the water. I got it online at Waterside Nursery but I’ve seen them on Amazon too. The dwarf water Lilly is expensive so shop around for that. Also, think about where you will position it. Mine gets full sun so is prone to green slime, I combat this with a bag full on Sainsbury’s So Organic watercress. Just empty the packet in and watch it grow.

Following for ideas. I run a school gardening club and they are keen to put in a little pond. I have a plastic tub I can sink into the ground . Our main issue is that we have no budget so it’s thinking about sourcing plants etc. Good to know that they can survive without a pump. We do have a small pond at home so I might be about to split off some of the reed -like plants from that.

Oh wow, I'd not thought of trying watercress in mine.

I have some barrel ponds, the birds like them but they are prone to getting pretty warm in the summer which I don't think is great for anything trying to live in them. They're fairly thin black plastic. I reckon your container - thick, looks like earthenware with a fairly reflective gaze - may be better?

Thank you for all your tips, I'm going to keep my eye out for a thick container - belfast sink maybe and remember the watercress tip too