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Original poster

Garden pond - need maintenance/toddler safety advice

17 replies

NewbieOnHolidays · 07/02/2026 14:48

We have a small pond in our garden, about 1-1.5 meters in diameter and it’s quite deep in the middle. We have a toddler and I’m looking for some advice on how to keep it safe for toddler. Can only think of 2 options: a net over and filling the pond with big pebbles until youngest child is old enough. Also I’m not sure what this black box in the pond is for and if I can/should remove all the roots which grow in the water. Photo attached

Garden pond - need maintenance/toddler safety advice
Garden pond - need maintenance/toddler safety advice
OP posts:
muckandmerriment · 07/02/2026 14:50

Personally I'd fill it in until they're older. We had a pond that I got decked over until my DCs were bigger. Too much stress and too hard to make safe.

PrenzPrince · 07/02/2026 14:52

I'd get rid of it. We viewed a house with a pond and came to the conclusion that netting wouldn't be enough.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 07/02/2026 18:47

The pond is a mess. Clean it up, fill it up with earth to a level to accommodate a sandpit plastic pit or paddling pool perhaps, ready for use if we see the sun, or a fire pit area. Or just level it up. Ponds take maintenance and you need eyes in the back of your head where children are involved.

MrAlyakhin · 07/02/2026 21:26

I also vote fill it in. We have a big pond and nearly adult children one of whom thought it would be a good idea to see if the ice would hold him.... Fortunately he just got cold, wet feet and a bollocking, but bloody hell, even when they're practically adults they can be so stupid.

Lallybroch · 07/02/2026 21:34

Netting is not enough. Either fill it in or get a metal grid to go over the top.

BeverleyBrooks · 07/02/2026 21:43

You can get metal grills to go over the top. But the pond does need a bit of a tidy up!

However if you do get rid of it would you consider replacing with a mini pond? We had a pond we had to fill in as it got a leak. But we found frogs in the bottom! I felt really bad so we replaced it with a mini pond, which I could put a grill on top for safety. The frogs moved in and have been a source of much enjoyment, the children loved watching them. Ponds even small ones are great for wildlife.

NecklessMumster · 07/02/2026 21:46

We hesitated over what to do until the day my 2.5 year old ran into it and I was seconds behind him. I pulled him out straight away but it was the worse experience of my life and we filled it in with sand.

NecklessMumster · 07/02/2026 21:47

Over the years the sand settled and water filled back on so we now have a pond again, just shallower

thereare4lights · 07/02/2026 22:12

My brother fell head first into our pond age 8 and couldn't get himself out. Really scary. Moved to a house with a pond when kids were 2 and 5 and filled it in immediately.

7238SM · 07/02/2026 22:23

That's a pond??? Sorry, but it looks large a large puddle full of leaves and bark! Does it have fish in it?

I'd fill it in but replace with a barrel style/taller pond on the patio. I know, not as good for wildlife but much safer for a toddler.

Agapornis · 08/02/2026 12:29

That needs a good clean. Ponds need maintenance.

If you'd like to keep it, you could put a high raised edge around it (e.g. sleepers). Then attach a metal grille to the new edge. Make sure to leave a little ladder/steps up for any small mice etc to clamber out.

greencheetah · 08/02/2026 12:33

Bloody hell that’s an eyesore!

Get rid of it.

PancakePatty · 10/02/2026 20:15

Fill it in. Not safe for children.
Netting is no good, child could still fall in (netting can rip) then even harder to get out with netting there too. Potentially making it even more unsafe.
Also putting fence/sleepers etc around it, children can potentially climb/fall in.

Wasywasydoodah · 10/02/2026 20:24

Fill it in. We had a massive pond in our house when we first moved in. First thing i did was puncture the lining. Then filled it in with tonnes of hardcore then soil. But worth it to let the kids play outside

Wasywasydoodah · 10/02/2026 20:26

Though i do like the idea of a mini pond with a metal grille on. I should have done that - i found a newt (not the great crested kind) about a year or two after I had filled the pond and i always wondered if it would have been a happier newt with some water.

MyBestThing · 11/02/2026 21:58

When I was pregnant we had the pond covered with a crisis cross of wood, solid stuff like fence posts. Finally removed when DC were aged about 11.
It was a big and beautiful pond though, full of plants and wildlife.
That pond doesn't really look worth saving.

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