Ponds are not only a potential centrepiece of your garden, they are hugely beneficial to the environment too!
Many pond keepers will have a pond as part of a hobby or to relax near on a hot summer’s day. Ponds are also proven to reduce stress because of the soothing sounds of the water movement. But owning a pond is also environmentally beneficial.
Water Conservation
Lawns and soil-based plants require a lot of watering to maintain; on average, this amounts to 2840-5680 litres (625-1250 gallons). But ponds don’t need rainwater, they can refill themselves from rain! You may need to top off the pond in the summer or perform a partial water change, but this amounts to a significant reduction in water usage. If your pond suffers from water loss from the heat in summer, drainpipes can be used to direct rainwater back to your pond through a water butt. This all lowers your utility costs and maintenance!
Further to this, pond water and the sludge at the bottom of the pond is great for feeding soil-based plants! The sludge is a natural fertiliser, and the water is high in beneficial chemicals!
Supports Local Wildlife (Useful Blogs: The Importance of Wildlife Ponds & How to Build One, Winter Wildlife Sanctuaries)
While you may have fish in your pond, your pond will also attract a diverse rage of wildlife. This could include birds, insects, mammals, and amphibians! These help to create a delicate ecosystem which balances the wildlife in your pond; in most cases, the more wildlife you have, the healthier your pond is!
More Plants (Useful Blogs: 5 Benefits of Pond Plants, Pond Plants)
Pond plants are excellent for the pond. Not only can they soften the edges around the pond to create a natural border between your pond and the area around it, but the plants also help to produce oxygen for both the pond and the area around it. By putting more plants into the pond (we recommend a coverage of at least 50%), you are helping to purify the area. Which is great! Not only this, but depending on which plants you use in and around the pond, you will find that you have a long lasting fresh smell, which can really add to the ponds environment!
Less mowing, fewer emissions
You may find yourself needing to mow your lawn regularly. This will normally involve a lawn mower which produces pollutants into the air (like carbon monoxide for example). But having a pond means you have less area to mow. Even if your pond needs a pump and filter, eco-friendly units can be purchased through solar panel or extremely low wattage!
Fewer Pesticides & Fertilizers
In your garden, you may be using pesticides or fertilizers to keep your soil-based plants protected and healthy. But these chemicals can be harmful and run into other parts of your garden or even a water supply!
Adding a pond to your garden can save you money on the fertiliser; as mentioned previously, pond water and sludge (decaying fish waste, fish food and other organic debris) at the bottom is a great fertiliser because of the concentration of nitrates. Further to this, plants in the pond may be able to counteract some of the chemicals of the pesticides and fertilizers you use. Two great reasons for having a pond!
More Environmental Awareness
Having a pond may encourage your friends or family to show an interest in the environment, especially kids when they are young. Planning, building, and maintaining a pond can teach kids how an ecosystem functions, and it can instil within them a respect, and responsibility, for caring about the environment.
You may also find the below blogs useful:
• Water Features
• Top Tips
• What can you do to help your local environment?