Wildlife

Garden Ponds for Wildlife Welfare

Garden ponds are the single most beneficial garden feature for wildlife diversity and provide welfare benefits for a wide range of species.

Key Facts

A 2m diameter pond can support 30+ invertebrate species, 5+ amphibian species, and many birds
Ponds have declined by 75% in the UK countryside since 1900, making garden ponds critical refugia
Goldfish should not be added to wildlife ponds as they eat amphibian eggs and larvae
Shallow beach edges allow animals to access and escape the water safely

Welfare Considerations

Ponds provide drinking water, bathing water, and breeding habitat for species with no alternative options in suburban landscapes. Amphibians breeding in garden ponds are the primary reproducing population for many urban areas. The welfare benefit extends from individual animals using the pond daily to the population-level provision of reproduction habitat for declining species.

What You Can Do

Create a pond of any size — even a half-barrel provides significant wildlife benefit
Include shallow edges with at least one sloping side for animal safety
Plant native aquatic species including water mint, marsh marigold, and water iris
Avoid goldfish in wildlife ponds — they destroy the ecosystem the pond is designed to support