Thank you! Every bit of hard work was for nature - the chickens seemed to enjoy what we were doing! I really appreciate your support Sir - best wishes to you and your family - Joel
I really love that you took the time to move the critters out ahead of time. Every little bug, tadpole, and newt are important. Definitely using your videos and book as we build our 2nd and 3rd pond this year. Also dig the idea of two layers of fleece.
Absolutely Ryan, this is why renovations take that much longer, but it's worth the extra efforts to ensure every creature gets another chance :) Thank you so much for buying the book and supporting me on the channel, it really does make a difference and helps spur me on. Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
It's fantastic isn't it - I absolutely cannot wait for Spring and to see all those plants established, and of course Summer - it's quite a big project, apart from the pond so I'll be there often - I was there again last week and took some beautiful footage of swathes of snowdrops - hoping to upload to youtube later tonight - a real sign Spring is on it's way :) Hope you're doing fine - Joel
Can't wait for the follow-up! We have a similar problem. We have a beautiful 2 acre wooded wildlife garden that we've spent the last 10yrs turning into a wildlife haven with over 800 species and counting. Unfortunately one area we have not spent the same amount of time developing is our 40ft x 20ft pond. We thought it was fine, it had oxygenating plants and lots of wildlife. But the last two years it has changed dramatically, we suspect rats have eaten the lining causing it to severely leak and it has a LOT of leaf litter build up in it, possibly as much as 3-4ft deep in places. For the last 10yrs we have had wild moorhens living and breeding on the pond, having 3 broods every year of between 4-9 chicks each time. We cannot get rid of the rats (and would never use poisons) because we feed the birds and moorhens every day and undoubtedly this has attracted the rats who were originally next door due to their chickens, so rats eating through pond linings is a real and ongoing problem. Because of the moorhens we have been reluctant to disturb them by having the pond drained and re-lined but the pond is looking worse and worse every year now. We know the pond would have to be done in the winter when the moorhens are not breeding but it is a worry, we'd hate to lose them! We still have at least 4-5 different species of dragonfly that have their larvae in the pond but the water is definitely full of methane build up and the frogs and toads have moved elsewhere in the garden because of the poor water quality. We need a quote for this project and would like to get the pond completely drained, all the sludge taken out, get it re-lined or possibly even lined with eco concrete because of the rat problem and re-done with any tree branches dropping their leaves into the pond, taken back. We have a brook that forms our northern boundary so can use natural fresh water to re-fill it, but what we need is someone like you who knows what they are doing, can resolve the rat problem and re-do our pond without us losing our beloved cherished wild moorhens. How much did this pond cost to do?
Hi there Sophie! My apologies for the delay, I don't seem to be getting all notifications re comments so I have to trawl through the videos to ensure I've not missed anyone - your situation sounds similar to this - if you could send an email to hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com I'll be sure to receive it and we can speak further of course :) Best wishes, Joel
Thank you Francis - so sorry for the delay in responding to you, it has been a very busy time - but I really do appreciate your kind comment and taking the time to show support, it makes a huge difference :) Best wishes, Joel
Thank you so much - can't wait to go back in about 2 months to start the other projects and of course have an opportunity to bring everyone an update video on how the plants have flourished - the oxygenators will be surfacing and coming back to life and of course there will be so much wildlife benefitting - stay tuned, as I often say! ;) Best wishes and take care Clive - Joel
@@cathykirkmcrae7727 Not yet Kathy, I work all over the country so unable to get back to all sites yet - however, this short video will show how these ponds establish after a few weeks: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Hope this is helpful in the meantime :) Best wishes - Joel
Thank you! I hope you enjoyed it - I'll be back this Spring to do other meadow works etc at the site so will do a full update video on this pond and how the plants establish and what wildlife continues to be attracted - best wishes to you - Joel
Thank you so much, I cannot wait to return in Spring and see how much everything has grown, and of course again in Summer to see the wildflowers at their peak and all the wildlife that has been attracted :)
Great work. Again! The chicken that runs here and there, reminds me of the scandinavic childrens book „Petterson and Findus“. Makes me smile. Great atmosphere! Thank you for showing!
Oh my goodness what a magnificent pond! That was fascinating to watch. How you didn’t bury a chicken I’ll never know 😆 It will be a delight in spring can’t wait to see. What a team!
Haha, yep - when watching the time-lapse parts it does seem like there's 6 chickens one second and the next they've all disappeared! All safe and sound though and they did not relent in following us about and nearly getting in the way - I think they were amazed at our "scratching" skills with the digger and the debris etc that it resulted in, oh and the free pieces of my lunch probably helped! But yes, a fantastic pond and I can't wait to go back and see it real soon - I'll be sure to get some brilliant footage and there will no doubt be some chicken appearances too :) Best wishes, Joel
Wow! Fantastic someone wants to invest in a mammoth pond, wildlife and wildflowers 😍 great to see the work and effort that goes in to and look forward to an update in the spring 😎
Thanks Donna - I really do meet some fabulous people in the work that I do, of course it's all wild-life orientated otherwise they wouldn't be calling me in - but to know that there is a growing number of people prepared to give over space to help our much-in-need wildlife is really encouraging - it's not been so easy over the last 16 years but I have definitely noticed a good trend towards making these spaces, however small - it's all important in the bigger scheme of things :)
Thank you so much - I really appreciate your comment, it's very encouraging - I will be doing a live-chat tomorrow if you are interested but there is lots more on the channel to help :) Best wishes to you, Joel
Thank you Carlito, that's appreciated :) The plants have established well now, the client has sent me some fantastic photos, I just need to be able to get back there and film it again :) Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
Hi! You'll be pleased to know (I hope!) that I was in Alnwick only 3 weeks ago and travel countrywide, from Cornwall to Scotland, east to west. If you wanted to drop me a line you can reach me on enquiries@hazelwoodlandscapes.com. Would be great to hear from you, your farm looks incredible and I've just subscribed :) Best wishes, Joel
Great video man ... love from india ... also please visit to india and spread this lovely knowledge to people of india ... your work made me speechless!!
Thank you! It will be even more beautiful in Spring when the planted wildflowers have grown and the oxygenator plants have woken up from their winter sleep :) I was due to come to India in the Spring, this may be delayed due to Covid of course but please feel free to spread the word and the videos on how to do this until I can get there! :) Your support is very much appreciated, I cannot wait to come to India, everyone has been so kind and supportive and I want to give something back! Best wishes, Joel
Thank you Manulal, I hope you are well! Yes, the hens were a good part of the team, you can see how keen they are to help! They were paid in worms and insects - and some of my lunch! :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks, best wishes to you too! I'll be looking forward to seeing it finished 😊 Will you be adding fishes to it too? Hahaha
@@bluebeeboo It would probably cope with a few smaller ones... but you know me, these are for wildlife and fish can play a detrimental effect ;) But stay tuned, only about 2 months to go before I revisit and take some updated footage with it in full glory and of course the wildlife that is attracted - chickens not counted! ;) Take good care - Joel
Thank you Muklis, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a nice comment - there are lots of pond videos on the channel and other advice about how to help wildlife where you are - would be great to see you for the live chat tomorrow too :) Stay safe where you are and best wishes - Joel
I'm so grateful for your comment! It certainly will be a fantastic haven for wildlife - as per the video, I'm returning in Spring and actually doing further works in 2 weeks to encourage even more nature and a few of the rarer butterflies - these clients are absolutely wonderful to work for and have already been doing so many good things for wildlife - I will have a short video of the lady on soon with some of the birds that she catches (safely!) and rings - the fieldfare bird video was taken in this garden, finding all he needed to ensure he had enough sustenance for his return journey to Scandinavia. Lots more videos of ponds and other works to come, I promise :) Take good care Ed, and thank you for your continued support, it really is appreciated - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton i appreciate content like this. Not just informative but inspiring. It such a rarity now a days to find people who are willing to step out of the norm and do something for nature. If we can somehow be cohesive collectively and think the way you think. We will have an amazing planet. Thank you. Can't wait for more videos
@@lvurbanfarming9001 Wow, thank you Ed - it really is the support and encouragement that keeps me going - with a day job to do and to try to create and upload so others can have a place to come for advice isn't easy, but it's very rewarding and the more spaces that work with nature rather than against it, the better - thank you for helping me to keep going - there will be many more videos to come of projects, more advice etc - I hope soon to be able to feature the gardens that other people have created - please stay tuned, working out a way I can make this happen :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
Excellent job, Joel👍. The old pond did need a bit of TLC but you and your crew did a fantastic job at rejuvenating and re-scaping it. I can't wait to see what the end result will be in the spring/summer when all those wildflowers are in bloom and wildlife starts using this awesome oasis (with or without the chickens😋). Really enjoyed the video as it really showcases how much work is needed to create a project of that size and the benefit of planning for a minimal maintenance approach and self-sustaining pond👌💕. Have a great week!!
Hello over there! Yes, it's certainly an improvement, the plants all have their feet in nicely at the moment and I can't wait until Spring and again in Summer to see the wildflowers at their peak - there are many other projects to be started soon at this site, but as you can see it's already a haven for a lot of wildlife, we'll be concentrating on making areas for the rarer butterflies, the amphibians will return early Spring too - they're no doubt hunkered down for the winter in much of the already provided habitat on site, there are so many different birds that pass through too - the fieldfare video was filmed at this client's and the lady is an experienced bird ringer, I'll hopefully be posting some of the birds with her at a later stage as I've taken a few short videos with her :) The chickens are quite funny and weren't perturbed at all by the machinery, in fact they found it a bonus as we were unearthing some tasty morsels I think! Take good care over there and enjoy the week too :) Joel
Hi Joel, thanks for your videos showing how to make a wildlife pond. We have just finished digging the pond - needed a skip to get rid of the stones and rubble. Also just realised you are one half of the Butterfly brothers - we have your book on wilding your garden. Thanks again.
Hi Christine - great to hear - I hope you saved the subsoil ;) Yep, although my brother isn't doing "this" anymore, he has moved to Poland now but it's made no difference to the operations here, all running the same :) Really glad the book has been helpful - did you know there is a website to accompany it? You can find everything mentioned in the book here: www.wildyourgarden.com - hope it proves as useful :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi. It was a 1mm butyl liner. We have them available here if you’re looking to buy one for your own project… 😊 wildyourgarden.com/product/firestone-pondgard-rubber-pond-liners-2-4m-to-4-9m/
Hell of a pond yes !! Impressive, i CAN'T WAIT for the update ! I clicked on this video looking for inspiration for my future (much smaller) pond, the tips about the leaves were really helpful since I plan, indeed, to build it under trees but see cleaning the leaves pretty much as a meditative practice... hoping I stick to this perspective once the pond exists hehehehe
Hello :) Thank you SO much for your kind words and support, it means a lot :) It won't be long until I show the pond again, when I was at the client's property last week they were all pushing through the soil, ready for Spring - I cannot wait to see it again - best wishes to you and good luck with your pond, I hope you enjoy the channel, there are some instruction videos on how to make the ponds like this - Joel
Hi there - so sorry for the delay, there are a lot of videos to keep up with regarding comments, but I'm determined to answer everyone eventually :) I haven't managed to get back to this client's pond yet but I hope to in May/June this year - it's real difficult as I work all over the country so getting back to the same areas can prove hard. Am not sure if you have seen already but there is a short video on the channel of just a few of the many ponds I've created this way and how they look a few weeks later: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Best wishes - Joel
Another great video joel !😊😊👌👏 Really appreciate your work;-) I love the chicken, he looks so gergous and when he eat foods ,he look so cute 🐓 Thank you and your team , who hard worked For nature !✊🌱🌿 This pond look very glorious !😍😘 God bless you and your team 🌼🌷
Thank you so much - the chickens certainly kept us amused and you can see the Chicken Team following us closely around the site to see what they can eat! Every effort is worth it for nature, it needs our help more than ever and everything needs water to live - I hope you are doing fine - keep in touch! Thank you again for all your support, it means a lot. Take care - Joel
It won't be long Tim - unfortunately the colder start to the year means the plants growth has been been put back by a couple of weeks, they're all doing well but I hoped for them to be more established by now, not long to go though and I have to go back to this job to do herbaceous perennial/shrub planting in a few weeks anyway so will be able to do an update video :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi there - unfortunately due to workload I've not managed to get back to this client's pond yet - although I'm doing my best to get back asap. However, if you wanted to see how these ponds establish after a few weeks, here's a short video of just a few of the many made using this method - it might help in the meantime :) th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Best wishes, and thanks for your support - many more videos to come! Joel
What a monumental effort - and what a result! Stunning! It will be great to see it revisited in maturity. I left off watching this one as I thought it would be too big to be of interest to me, but far from it. Same principles, just on a much bigger scale. I learn something valuable every time I visit your channel Joel. Thanks for your efforts. All the best.
Thank you Norman - not the largest we've done but it's certainly close :) I'll be back there soon to do an update video now it is starting to establish, the colder April than usual has meant that a lot of the plants are a few weeks behind - but it will certainly be a stunning pond once established - not long to go now though :) Best wishes, Joel
Loved seeing the proces. Also friendly presenting. And the comment at the end, tomorrow is planting day and it's going to be a hell of a pond. Like it totally.
Thank you so much - I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement, they make a difference :) Welcome to the channel, I hope you find more videos that help and that you enjoy - best wishes to you, Joel
Hi Nicola - you can find everything you need right here, this is everything I personally use for pond and wildlife designs and creations - this is the liner: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html If you advise (enquiries@wildyourgarden.com) the size of pond you want to create then we can work out quantities for you. Best wishes - Joel
Hi Sara. Indeed I can. I set up a website to make these products available to all those people looking to make their own wildlife pond. Here’s a link. Let me know if you need any more info. Thank you 😊 wildyourgarden.com/product/firestone-pondgard-rubber-pond-liners-2-4m-to-4-9m/
Great video. I plan to build my own natural pond this year about a fifth to a quarter of this size of the one in the video. One potential problem I have is the field has moles. What is the best way to protect the pond liner from moles?
Hi Dave -so sorry for the delay in coming back to you, I don't seem to get all the YT notifications re comments left :/ However, if you use the butyl rubber liner and the double layer of industrial strength fleece (both available at www.wildyourgarden.com) then this will prevent any damage at all. Using the industrial fleece found on the online shop and the additional weight of the water once filled this will deter any moles - if you are really concerned you could always put a double layer of fleece under the liner. We're happy to answer questions via enquiries@wildyourgarden.com if you need any other help of course :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi Nicola, a pond this size is quite a feat, are you doing this yourself or having contractors to do it? As you can see, heavy plant is involved - if a contractor is doing the works I would ensure that they are au-fait with this style of pond install. I would aim for around 90-120cm, but any person taking on these works should be able to work this out. Hope that is helpful, am here if you need advice - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton We are doing it ourselves and have dug it out and built a lot of the land up as height differences were vast . I think we have a max depth of 800. Do you think this is too shallow. If I require a deeper area what m2 do you suggest at the deeper level. At the moment the size is 20m x 15m . Our sub soil is yellow with dolomite looking material in it. Can this be reused?
I know I'm very late to this , 2 years late, but an intake bay (with a pump) would really help with the leaves making it really easy to clean them out and help circulate the water giving the beneficial bacteria more to work with breaking down what leaves do sink in the pond. Just a th
Thanks for this advice Dave, it might help some people but all ponds that I make, unless specifically requested by the client, don't need any artificial pumps or filtration - but this is a good point. Best wishes, Joel
Hi. It is fine to build a pond near a river or lake, yes. Concrete can be used but has more of an impact on the environment. I would recommend using a rubber butyl liner as these are made from recycled rubber. I hope that helps 😊
Hey Joel, have you posted the update video on this? If yes, please share the link. I browsed through all the videos, couldn't find it. I Love your work man❤️
Hey Kaushal - Thank you so much, that means a lot :) Due to workload and working all over the UK, I've not managed to get back to this pond yet - I am not sure if you've seen this video of just a few of the many ponds made this way, but this shows smaller urban ponds and larger acre site ponds that have been made in this exact way and how they look after a few weeks when the plants have established: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html I hope this helps you in the meantime :) I really appreciate your kind words and support - best wishes, Joel
@@kaushalbshetty398 You're very welcome Kaushal, thank you for your support and kind words - have a wonderful weekend and please stay in touch :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton will do! I am from India. I have plans for a small pond... Hopefully I will be able to make it.. will let you know if I happen to create one😀
@@kaushalbshetty398 Thank you - if you need any help or advice please let me know, feel free to email me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com, would love to keep in touch! Best wishes to you and your family in India - Joel
Yes it does! They were pretty good though, definitely not put off by the machinery in any way and were more interested in what we were digging up - you might see some preventative netting at the very end of the video, this is just while the plants establish, otherwise we'd have gone back and they would have definitely had all the plants up - way too tempting! Can't wait to get to see it again when the plants are all established and the hornwort has woken up and started doing it's thing :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yeah me too looking forward to when it comes to life in spring /summer. Did you find many amphibians and insects in the pond ?
@@UkAmphibians There were no frogs and amphibians at the time, being winter etc they'd already moved off to a vast amount of habitat in the client's field, it's an absolute haven there. We did find a good few damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, the hornwort took some going through too but we put them in large buckets until the pond had been established a few days and of course there will be many more visitors in the Spring :)
Hi there, thank you so much for your encouragement and support. The client here was very lucky to be on "chalk" ground so this affected the colour of the water and gave it this fabulous "blue" look. If you google "Plitvice Lakes, Croatia" you will see an example of what this chalk base can create, they're pretty spectacular. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Hey Dan, trying to squeeze in a visit to this pond in late Spring/early Summer, due to working all over the country and a tight schedule it means I have to be within an hour or so of the site, but I'm working on it :) Not sure if you've seen this video of other established ponds, but it might be of interest in the meantime: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'll check them out, we have a fairly large pond on our property that has decades of silt built up so have been looking for tips on how to refurbish/renew it. Great video and work by the way, thanks for the reply
Hello over there! I've had several requests for this from the USA, and a request from a pond-liner supplier to provide a few videos and work with them. I would absolutely love to do these in the USA, it would take some planning of course but I'll be sure to let you know if I head your way :) Stay safe over there, best wishes to you and yours - Joel
Hi there - this is Butyl Rubber EPDM liner, it's recommended by greenpeace due to it's longevity and it being made from recycled tyres - the white fabric is industrial fleece. If you're in the UK I can let you know where to buy it. If it's not available in your country then carpet underlay can also be used instead of the fleece as of course the subsoil covers this :) Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
Hi Sachin - I have never had a problem with any flooding with these ponds, the subsoil top layer and of course the plants that are planted into this soil help to evaporate a lot of water after any heavy downpours - I hope this is helpful - best wishes to you and yours - Joel
Hi there Rob - unfortunately due to workload I've not managed to get back to this pond yet - it will no doubt have to be in the Spring next year now, but you might find this short video of interest (if you've not seen it already!) about how they establish in a very short time: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Best wishes - Joel
Just a few mins in and wow, that's a lot of work, loving the transformation. I have a ton of hornwort in my fish tanks I love that stuff, did you know it absorbs nitrates, ammonia, carbon dioxide and phosphates, also keeps algae down. It's Great for pond fish too! Really beautiful plant🌿 Thank you for another awesome video, love the chicken in the time laspe 🐔 running back & forth. I'm really thankful I searched for how to make a backyard pond back when I discovered your channel, because your channel doesn't disappoint 😊 God bless you and everyone who sees this! ✝️ Edit: ok, this is amazing you basically build a natural swimming pool in the freezing cold. I need an update when those plants grow in! 🌸
Wow, thank you so much! It's certainly beautiful and will be more so come this Spring when I go back, not long to go now - absolutely agree re the hornwort, you can't beat it for it's benefits and it can go someway to negate the use of electric pumps, even with fish. The chickens weren't perturbed by use of the machinery, although due to the timelapse it does look as though a few "disappeared" near the machinery - no animals were harmed during the making of this film (etc etc!) - your consistent support means so much - best wishes and stay safe (and busy!) - Joel
Hi , great vid . I live in East Sussex and tend to get past few years very hot summers that dries the pond, is that ok to let the pond dry up or should I keep topping it up with water ? Also if it's ok to let the pond dry up then end of September I can clear up the leaves fallen from trees over winter. One last question is: how long does it take for frogs to change from tadpoles to baby frogs and leave the pond as last year (my first year of having a pond) there were large number of tadpole that seem to never want to change to baby frogs even though summer was coming to an end ??? Cheers
Hi Reza, I had the same in my pond last year too, a few of the tadpoles staying in their semi-grown stages - sometimes it can be because it's a new pond, there's insufficient algae (one of their food sources) that has developed, they then overwinter and if they survive then they turn into frogs the next year. These over-wintering ones can often have an advantage as they develop for the Spring and can make the most of the new available food sources. Ponds in nature often dry up and the creatures learn to "live" with this, however for smaller sources I would recommend a top-up - you can use tap water, the chlorine should dissipate within 48 hours - topping up can ensure bathing/drinking water for birds etc and when you start getting dragonflies laying, it's important for the larvae of course - it's always good to rake the leaves as you see them, every other day etc - hope that helps Reza, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank u. visiting my garden this morning as I do every morning in this lockdown days I found pair of mating frogs!!! Isnt that too early ? Last year the mating pairs started to pop toward end of February???
@@rezaamini2388 Hi Reza, if it's a relatively milder winter then it's not uncommon to see them mating end Jan/beginning of Feb, not sure where you are in the country but it's relatively mild today here in the South East - it could be a factor :) Nice to see though, some optimism and signs Spring is not far... :)
You may have seen already - but there are instructions in the videos here for building the same pond in the small pond time-lapse: th-cam.com/video/lKrjMv6TMlU/w-d-xo.html As above, let me know where you live and I'll do my best to help with the fleece :)
Another great video, thank you for everything you do! I planted some perennial wildflower plugs in autumn and was wondering if they will flower this spring/summer coming? I have asked google and TH-cam many times but can’t seem to find an answer so was hoping you could enlighten me? Thank you
Hi there Spencer - I'm happy to help of course :) Absolutely they will flower if perennial and planted in the autumn, so look forward to some colour and more importantly insects etc soon - I am doing another live Q&A this Sunday at 3pm (GMT) if you have time to join us - it's a great community on there and I'm of course happy to answer any further questions you have - you can also leave a comment underneath the videos of course. Thank you for your positive response, it's very encouraging in making more videos - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton oh fantastic news! That’s just what I wanted to hear. I’ve also got some annual seed I can sow so it should be a very good year for insects in my garden! Thank you for the reply. And yes I will be attending that, I was at the last one and enjoyed it thoroughly! No problem at all, I love your channel and the work you do, it’s great! Thank you very much and I’ll catch you Sunday! Take care and best wishes.
@@spencersanderson1894 Comments like yours really do make my day! Great to hear that you're returning to join us again this Sunday - I've worked hard on getting the next one to happen without those few glitches like last time - I'm really looking forward to it already - yes, the more nectar plants the more insects and therefore the more natural food for birds come Spring when their young need these insects to provide moisture, bird feeders are vital in the winter months but come Spring unless mealworms are provided there's little else apart from insects to give the young the best chance - look forward to seeing you on Sunday - take care too, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton sorry about the long reply! I’m glad to hear that I really am. And yes it was good last time I learnt a lot from replies to people’s questions, yes there was a few but apart from that it was very good! And yes I try to encourage as many butterfly as well so they can lay there caterpillars and make a good food source for the birds and their young! See you Sunday take care and best wishes.
@@spencersanderson1894 Hey, no need to apologise Spencer :) Sorry for my late reply, youtube tends to alert me now and again and I have to trawl the comments to ensure I've addressed everything. I really do value your support and am absolutely thrilled that there are so many like-minded people - I shall continue to provide free advice and videos as long as I know it's making a real difference, despite the time it can take - can't wait for tomorrow! :)
Hi Cindy - my apologies, haven't quite managed to get back there yet - such a busy workload, but I will do soon - I work all over the country so trying to get back to the same place has proven difficult, but I'm happy there are more and more new habitats :) There is a video here on the channel which shows how they establish, it might be of interest in the meantime: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Best wishes to you Cindy - Joel
Certainly was Christopher, although more than one water butt on this client's property there was no way two or three would fill this sized pond. Tap water is fine, in the UK, the chlorine dissipates in a week or so and the way I create and plant these ponds means that I never have to use filtration/pump systems, it's all down to the set-up and planting. I'm actually back here creating another large pond for the client so am also doing an update on this one while I'm there - coming soon :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton OK thanks I'm new to wildlife ponds and here to get tips before I create my own with the intention of creating one targeting and boosting amphibian numbers as there has been a dramatic decline in recent years. I've been looking and learning, the last video said no tap water because of Chlorine and nitrates and yes I always thought Chlorine would quick;y disappear. I'm very interested in your non filtration setup, I was thinking two pool setup with raised pool feeding lower via a drop to oxygenate during these very hot summers we're getting. Is my thinking wrong? Have you done a video I can see? Thanks for your reply I can see you love your work.
@@christophernunn943 Hi there Chris, not a problem at all. I've been creating ponds without any filtration (aside from the plants!) for over 20 years and none have failed. If you wanted to drop me a line at enquiries@wildyourgarden.com I will happily take time out to help advise so that another vital habitat for nature is created - it's much easier for me to keep up with emails than YT notifications as some do get missed, but I can also point you in the direction of the right videos on the channel and if possible if you could send a photo or two of the garden and area you'd like the pond that would help, moving forward☺Best wishes, Joel
Hi Dan, I see what you mean, but I am certain it's just leaf movement in the wind, it was the depths of winter, and the timelapse makes it seem like it's moving faster than it is :) Well spotted though! Best wishes, Joel
Hi there Karna :) With this particular pond there was already a great deal of life in there, which we removed and placed in the containers until it was completed again. I don't add anything, frogs will travel around a mile to find water sources, newts too and dragonflies etc will soon find water. Amazingly the eggs of many species will be transferred from water body to water body via bird's feet and of course dragonflies etc will find their own way. You can buy water snails etc if you wanted to add life immediately, but I hope that helps - best wishes, Joel
Hi Marcus - there is a 3 part instructional video on how and more importantly why the ponds I make are created using this method here. No biological filter is needed for these wildlife ponds, the natural oxygenating plants help to keep them clear - you can see a few of the many I've created using this method over 16 years now :- th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Hope this is helpful - best wishes, Joel
They will be back on the pond in Spring (the Moorhens, not the chickens!) so they will no doubt be there when I revisit in around 6-8 weeks - I'll make sure they're on the video if they're there and I'll ask the clients what they think of each other! Hope you're doing well - stay safe Ameed - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton i guess the moorhens would be scared of them chickens ...and kind of territorial... P.s ...that beard transition though....
Haha! I was thinking... "I suppose my beard did get longer during the video..." - definitely going to call the wattles beards from now though - and definitely going to get some more chicken footage when I return... :)
Hi Lorna - apologies, but working all over the country means that it's proven difficult to get back to this particular site to show it afterwards. The client has sent a few photos but not enough to make a worthwhile video of course - I do plan to get back there but in the meantime, forgive me if you've seen them, these two videos will show similar ponds and how they establish: th-cam.com/video/9zYt1nP3TY0/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
Haha! Thank you Paul - sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, I've been away for 10 days and then back to client works, just catching up with everyone now - best wishes, Joel
Hi Cameron. It would potentially work without a liner but would depend on the soil underneath. If it is a heave clay, chances are it will hold water most of the year. There is of course always the risk of the pond drying out in the summer and the invertebrates suffering of course. Hope that helps?
Could anyone be so kind to explain to me, why there are plastic sheets placed underneath the stony foundation layer of the pond? By usind those sheets isn't it the same as a sealed concrete surface? Or is the plastic layer able to let some water pass to soak into the ground?
Hi there - so sorry for the delay but it's really difficult trying to keep up with comments, I hope I am not too late or you think that I was ignoring you :) There is a layer of white fleece, which protects the liner, then another layer of fleece on top of the liner, this not only offers further protection but allows the planting to be directly into the soil. The subsoil used (it is important that it is the low-nutrient subsoil) also helps to keep the water clear, along with the natural oxygenating plants and broad-leaved cover, like native lilies etc - I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Hello there - I will be doing an update on this pond real soon as the plants are coming back to life now - but I have done a previous video showing the larvae in a large pond - you can see it here: th-cam.com/video/3StRdYD_w5A/w-d-xo.html Best wishes, Joel
Hi there - this is fleece, but you can put underlay etc - it's just to ensure the liner is protected from both sides and of course allows the subsoil for planting directly into - it all looks more natural, aside from ensuring the liner is in good use for many many years :) Hope that is helpful, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I appreciate the reply from one pond builder to another always great to see what people do I really like the natural look to your ponds and love the channel :)
@@CoralMan24 Thank you, so much! I am quite overwhelmed by the support and nice people I've "met" via this channel, I am so keen that everyone knows as much as possible about making habitats for wildlife, not only the creatures benefit but so do the people that create them, rewarded soon with so much life and all in their back gardens :) Really appreciate you taking the time to leave such positive comments :) Best wishes, Joel
@@CoralMan24 Thank you :) There are certainly a few lined up - if you see the London Garden Renovation video posted recently, we are about to install a pond there too - although the weather is having an impact the last few days - I will be doing regular updates on that garden :) Stay safe, and thank you again for your support - it's appreciated - best wishes, Joel
Hi Asher, I've not had to use the method using bentonite due to the low-nutrient subsoils we have here, they ensure that not only can plants be put easily straight into the soil, the low nutrient content ensures that they stay clear, with help from the natural oxygenators of course :) Best wishes, and thanks for your support - Joel
Hi Ben, if I need additional subsoil to that which is excavated from the pond dig then I do have bulk subsoil but this is delivered in relatively huge quantities - I do know of some suppliers that will supply in tonne bags but it depends where you are - if you send an email to hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com with the area you are living in then I will do my utmost to help. Best wishes, Joel
Thanks Joel, that’s very kind of you. I have managed to find a corner of my garden which can spare some barrows, it’s quite poor sandy soil so hopefully will do the trick. Pond is filling up as we speak. Your videos have been the most helpful I have found so cheers!
I know! When I watched the footage back it does seem that they were lucky to escape the digger etc, but of course in real-life they weren't that fast, but just as funny ;) Best wishes, Joel
Really well presented and loads of good information, well done mate !! My pond knowledge is really limited but the term eutrophication springs to mind if memory serves about pond pollution build up? Good to see the wildlife being preserved . . . but where did those chickens escape from 😁😉👍
Hi! Thanks for leaving such a positive comment, I really do appreciate it :) Yep, the chickens look liked they disappeared in a few segments of the video but all safe! They followed us everywhere, as you can see - intrigued by what we were digging up no doubt. Yep, eutrophication but this pond was more affected by the leaf litter build up - loved that Tudor Clay path you laid, impressive! Keep in touch - best wishes to you, Joel
Hi Joel I have read elsewhere not to add soil of any type to a pond due to it introducing nutrients. I've watched another pond creation video where plants are planted directly into gravel. What are your thoughts on that?
Hi there :) I've used this method for over 16 years now and it has not failed yet. You are right in that general soil will increase nutrients, this is why we use only subsoil which has minimal nutrients and allows for planting directly into the soil, negating the use of plastic baskets etc - there is also no artificial filtration needed to keep these ponds clear - you can see just a few of the many ponds created in this video here: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
Hi there - we don't divulge what clients spend unfortunately, particularly if a husband wants a larger pond! ;) Joking aside though, it is difficult to give a general cost for a pond this size as it depends on whether the client wants boulders, the size, access to the property, man-hours required, distance and the soil already available - needless to say they're worth every penny :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi there! Sorry for the delay, I don't always get notifications of comments but this has been seen before, it's not a snake or a newt but it does look like it due to the time-lapse element! I believe it's just leaves moving around :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi Pep - sorry for the delay - I think I answered this on another video but same applies, once these natural habitats are set up nature does take care of "itself" - these water bodies encourage lots of larger insects (dragonflies etc), amphibians, birds and bats - they all help to make a dent in any mosquito population - here's a quick video on how soon these ponds attract the right insects: th-cam.com/video/Ygxze7QZPa4/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps Pep - best wishes, Joel
Hey mate wonderful video! Was just curious wasn’t sure if you mentioned it but what is the point of the liner? I know it would probably have something to do with keeping the mud out but would it be a viable option to line the pond with rocks or no?
Hi there Joey, it is indeed for water retention, the fleece and soil both protect the liner and of course mean that they last a lot longer than those without protection, both above and below. The fleece also allows us to place the subsoil in, and around the edges of the pond (we do use topsoil if insufficient subsoil available for planting edges on smaller ponds), meaning we can plant straight into it, negating the use for plastic baskets etc. I hope that helps - I'm here if you have any other questions and am happy to help :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi i was just wondering how does the pond get its amazing blue color ? I know some people are using natural dyes..was it the light beige subsoil giving the color?
Hi Mekaal :) Spot on! You are correct, it is a chalk-based subsoil found naturally on the site, where we will also be using it to make chalk-banks in the meadow areas - no dyes in this one, although they are used quite a lot these days, it's always natural for me though :) Really appreciate your kind comments, hope you enjoy the channel, there's lots to see here - best wishes to Mekaal, Joel
Hi Joe - sorry for the delay - it's known as a needled-felt underlay, anything can be used though, old carpet etc - hope that helps - thanks for your kind comment, best wishes - Joel
Hi Matt, due to work schedules (work obviously takes priority for everyone) I've not managed to get back to this client's pond yet, but I aim to as soon as I'm in the area. I work all over the country so it's difficult to take time out at the moment. I'll be sure to do an update on this. Forgive me if you've seen it already but there's a short video here of just a few of the ponds made over the last 17 years using this method, and how they look once established: th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps in the meantime - best wishes, Joel
Hi Heather, sorry for delay in responding - we didn't find any in the pond as they would had likely moved to a different habitat for winter - anything from another animal's burrow, or inside a compost heap or log stack but they do need to keep damp - some frogs overwinter in ponds but very deep down and this pond was pretty murky before - newts apparently prefer murky water but there are two other old ponds on the site so they may well have been in and around, both amphibians have been seen in the pond in the spring and summer months :) Any life we did find we kept in the large buckets or transferred them to the other ponds on site - best wishes, Joel
I have a pond less than half that size and the cost of the liner was eye watering...I would not want to be paying for a liner of this size...🥴...nice job though guys..
Hi Ian. Thanks for commenting. Yes - liners get pretty expensive when they get this big, but it’s a process that only takes place once, then the pond should (in theory) exist indefinitely 😊👍 Hope you’re well.
If you are going to have trees around a pond, would evergreens be preferrable so you don't have the leaf drop into the water? Also, would some tall-ish grasses help block leaves before they blow unto the pond?
Evergreen trees drop leaves too, but they do it gradually throughout the year instead of all at once like deciduous trees. This means that removing them from the pond will be even more work. Also evergreen leaves break down more slowly so they can easily build up in the water
Hi Joel - we are in the process of building a wildlife pond using the same technique you advocate. I have to order the stone to be delivered, mainly for the well part and I wondered if you had a rule of thumb to try and estimate the quantity - it looks like the best value is buying 1000Kg at a time - around 40 - 50 200mm - 300mm stones. It might make an interesting video for you to go over this bit? I will of course be buying the liner and underlay and plants from you. We now have 5 badgers visiting the garden, along with a few foxes and a tawny owl. My concern is what the badgers will do to the pond liner - I hope by providing 2 beaches they will not decide to just plunge into it and risk the liner. Any suggestions? - here is a video with 4 of them - th-cam.com/video/2BwCzKISELM/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=MarkBarton you can just see the outline of the pond we are starting to dig.
Hi Mark - thank you for this - could you send an email to me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com and I can advise further, I'll need to know the size of pond etc of course :) I'll also have a look at the video when I get a chance, but I doubt the badgers will do damage, I've never heard of it before - catch up soon, best wishes - Joel
Just seen the video! They're quite a size but what a healthy looking family - I couldn't leave a comment as the video is set "for kids", this used to confuse me when I first started YT as it seems like you're stating "it's suitable for kids" but when selecting that it actually means it's intended for kids, and comment facility is then disabled :/ Great video though :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel - I find the Eufy Security SoloCam E40 works well as a wildlife camera (when on offer) - assuming your are within wifi range its much better than a camera trap
Hi Terry, the soil on the site is better than any clay - it is quite chalk-heavy which produced the beautiful blue tint in the water, I was at the site again yesterday and the plants are starting to wake up now, I'll be doing an update video on this pond real soon - best wishes, Joel
Thank you - it is difficult to find music to please everyone, hopefully you enjoyed the parts where I was talking and there was no music at all ;) Best wishes, Joel
Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton Absolutely! May be you are willing to answer a question: why or why shouldn’t you put stones or soil over lining on the bottom or edges if you are building a pond for wildlife? Mostly people advise against it, but you did in this video.
Apologies for any confusion, these are deemed natural looking as opposed to exposed liner, fibreglass pre-formed ponds, stones placed on liner to "disguise" excess, no artificial filtration or pumps needed (like you see in expensive koi set-ups due waste from the fish). The EPDM rubber is recycled, and recommended by Greenpeace as it's made from discarded tyres. They're purely to attract wildlife :)
I love your videos but I have to mute them when you put that crazy music on. It's gardening, it's natural, how about something a little less techno? Sorry, none of my business I'll just keep doing it on mute
Hi. Thanks for commenting. I just try and select music for the different videos that go with the theme of the video. Sorry this one wasn’t to your taste, but hopefully many are. Thanks for commenting 😊👍
Great video, Joel. Looking forward to the update in the spring.
Thanks Mark - hopefully I'll have managed to get in the loft by then too! I haven't forgotten ;)
Canelo's english has gotten a lot better since last I heard him, good to see he has picked up other hobbies for when he's not boxing.
Haha Miguel! This has been said before... I wish I had his money (and fighting skills!) - that did make me laugh - best wishes to you, Joel
Suatu pekerjaan yang membutuhkan tenaga dan pemikiran yang super! Sukses buat yang punya channel.
Thank you! Every bit of hard work was for nature - the chickens seemed to enjoy what we were doing! I really appreciate your support Sir - best wishes to you and your family - Joel
I really love that you took the time to move the critters out ahead of time. Every little bug, tadpole, and newt are important. Definitely using your videos and book as we build our 2nd and 3rd pond this year. Also dig the idea of two layers of fleece.
Absolutely Ryan, this is why renovations take that much longer, but it's worth the extra efforts to ensure every creature gets another chance :) Thank you so much for buying the book and supporting me on the channel, it really does make a difference and helps spur me on. Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
Amazing can't wait for the update
Thank you Mark :) Won't be long now... I can't wait either!
Now that what u call a pond Joel !!! Wow 🤩 can’t wait to see the update
It's fantastic isn't it - I absolutely cannot wait for Spring and to see all those plants established, and of course Summer - it's quite a big project, apart from the pond so I'll be there often - I was there again last week and took some beautiful footage of swathes of snowdrops - hoping to upload to youtube later tonight - a real sign Spring is on it's way :) Hope you're doing fine - Joel
Can't wait for the follow-up! We have a similar problem. We have a beautiful 2 acre wooded wildlife garden that we've spent the last 10yrs turning into a wildlife haven with over 800 species and counting. Unfortunately one area we have not spent the same amount of time developing is our 40ft x 20ft pond. We thought it was fine, it had oxygenating plants and lots of wildlife. But the last two years it has changed dramatically, we suspect rats have eaten the lining causing it to severely leak and it has a LOT of leaf litter build up in it, possibly as much as 3-4ft deep in places. For the last 10yrs we have had wild moorhens living and breeding on the pond, having 3 broods every year of between 4-9 chicks each time. We cannot get rid of the rats (and would never use poisons) because we feed the birds and moorhens every day and undoubtedly this has attracted the rats who were originally next door due to their chickens, so rats eating through pond linings is a real and ongoing problem. Because of the moorhens we have been reluctant to disturb them by having the pond drained and re-lined but the pond is looking worse and worse every year now. We know the pond would have to be done in the winter when the moorhens are not breeding but it is a worry, we'd hate to lose them! We still have at least 4-5 different species of dragonfly that have their larvae in the pond but the water is definitely full of methane build up and the frogs and toads have moved elsewhere in the garden because of the poor water quality. We need a quote for this project and would like to get the pond completely drained, all the sludge taken out, get it re-lined or possibly even lined with eco concrete because of the rat problem and re-done with any tree branches dropping their leaves into the pond, taken back. We have a brook that forms our northern boundary so can use natural fresh water to re-fill it, but what we need is someone like you who knows what they are doing, can resolve the rat problem and re-do our pond without us losing our beloved cherished wild moorhens. How much did this pond cost to do?
Hi there Sophie! My apologies for the delay, I don't seem to be getting all notifications re comments so I have to trawl through the videos to ensure I've not missed anyone - your situation sounds similar to this - if you could send an email to hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com I'll be sure to receive it and we can speak further of course :) Best wishes, Joel
How about a cat 🐈 to get rid of rats ?
wow, great job, great video to, well put together....cheers
Thank you Francis - so sorry for the delay in responding to you, it has been a very busy time - but I really do appreciate your kind comment and taking the time to show support, it makes a huge difference :) Best wishes, Joel
Looking good!
Thank you so much Gurra, really appreciate your comment and you taking the time, it can make all the difference :) Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
Looks absolutely stunning... what a massive difference... this wildlife haven will look outstanding when all grown in ... top job Joel great work 👌
Thank you so much - can't wait to go back in about 2 months to start the other projects and of course have an opportunity to bring everyone an update video on how the plants have flourished - the oxygenators will be surfacing and coming back to life and of course there will be so much wildlife benefitting - stay tuned, as I often say! ;) Best wishes and take care Clive - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Did you get a chance to update this pond? Can't seem to find one on your playlist.
@@cathykirkmcrae7727 Not yet Kathy, I work all over the country so unable to get back to all sites yet - however, this short video will show how these ponds establish after a few weeks:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Hope this is helpful in the meantime :) Best wishes - Joel
Nice shariing stay connected still watching the video
Thank you! I hope you enjoyed it - I'll be back this Spring to do other meadow works etc at the site so will do a full update video on this pond and how the plants establish and what wildlife continues to be attracted - best wishes to you - Joel
Oh wow amazing 😳😦😮😯 ❤️🥰
Thank you so much, I cannot wait to return in Spring and see how much everything has grown, and of course again in Summer to see the wildflowers at their peak and all the wildlife that has been attracted :)
Great work. Again! The chicken that runs here and there, reminds me of the scandinavic childrens book „Petterson and Findus“. Makes me smile. Great atmosphere! Thank you for showing!
Oh my goodness what a magnificent pond! That was fascinating to watch. How you didn’t bury a chicken I’ll never know 😆 It will be a delight in spring can’t wait to see. What a team!
Haha, yep - when watching the time-lapse parts it does seem like there's 6 chickens one second and the next they've all disappeared! All safe and sound though and they did not relent in following us about and nearly getting in the way - I think they were amazed at our "scratching" skills with the digger and the debris etc that it resulted in, oh and the free pieces of my lunch probably helped! But yes, a fantastic pond and I can't wait to go back and see it real soon - I'll be sure to get some brilliant footage and there will no doubt be some chicken appearances too :) Best wishes, Joel
Wow! Fantastic someone wants to invest in a mammoth pond, wildlife and wildflowers 😍 great to see the work and effort that goes in to and look forward to an update in the spring 😎
Thanks Donna - I really do meet some fabulous people in the work that I do, of course it's all wild-life orientated otherwise they wouldn't be calling me in - but to know that there is a growing number of people prepared to give over space to help our much-in-need wildlife is really encouraging - it's not been so easy over the last 16 years but I have definitely noticed a good trend towards making these spaces, however small - it's all important in the bigger scheme of things :)
Good work, keep it up, thanks
Thank you so much - I really appreciate your comment, it's very encouraging - I will be doing a live-chat tomorrow if you are interested but there is lots more on the channel to help :) Best wishes to you, Joel
Fantastic! 👍😊♥️
Thank you! Can't wait to go back shortly and film the update, it's going to be a fantastic habitat - let's hope the chickens respect it! ;)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Lol yes, gotta keep the chicken happy 😁
@@englishtommy3039 They weren't fussed about the machinery at all, too busy checking what we'd unearthed! They look so funny in time-lapse :)
Wow this is a massive work of art, love it!
Thank you Carlito, that's appreciated :) The plants have established well now, the client has sent me some fantastic photos, I just need to be able to get back there and film it again :) Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
I’m hoping to build something similar in my wild area. Seems like a massive undertaking though. How far do you travel!! Ha ha!(Northumberland) 😅
Hi! You'll be pleased to know (I hope!) that I was in Alnwick only 3 weeks ago and travel countrywide, from Cornwall to Scotland, east to west. If you wanted to drop me a line you can reach me on enquiries@hazelwoodlandscapes.com. Would be great to hear from you, your farm looks incredible and I've just subscribed :) Best wishes, Joel
Great video man ... love from india ... also please visit to india and spread this lovely knowledge to people of india ... your work made me speechless!!
Thank you! It will be even more beautiful in Spring when the planted wildflowers have grown and the oxygenator plants have woken up from their winter sleep :) I was due to come to India in the Spring, this may be delayed due to Covid of course but please feel free to spread the word and the videos on how to do this until I can get there! :) Your support is very much appreciated, I cannot wait to come to India, everyone has been so kind and supportive and I want to give something back! Best wishes, Joel
Nice work...
The hen is also working with you☺️
Thank you Manulal, I hope you are well! Yes, the hens were a good part of the team, you can see how keen they are to help! They were paid in worms and insects - and some of my lunch! :)
Pretty Cool!
Thank you! Really appreciate your positive comment, it makes this worthwhile :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks, best wishes to you too! I'll be looking forward to seeing it finished 😊 Will you be adding fishes to it too? Hahaha
@@bluebeeboo It would probably cope with a few smaller ones... but you know me, these are for wildlife and fish can play a detrimental effect ;) But stay tuned, only about 2 months to go before I revisit and take some updated footage with it in full glory and of course the wildlife that is attracted - chickens not counted! ;) Take good care - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton That's understandable! Can't wait to see it in the future 💙
So good! ❤
Amazing
Thank you Muklis, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a nice comment - there are lots of pond videos on the channel and other advice about how to help wildlife where you are - would be great to see you for the live chat tomorrow too :) Stay safe where you are and best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton oke
Super video
Thank you so much - I appreciate your support! Best wishes, Joel
Great job. 👍
I'm so amazed. Just fantastic video 👏 :)
I'm so grateful for your comment! It certainly will be a fantastic haven for wildlife - as per the video, I'm returning in Spring and actually doing further works in 2 weeks to encourage even more nature and a few of the rarer butterflies - these clients are absolutely wonderful to work for and have already been doing so many good things for wildlife - I will have a short video of the lady on soon with some of the birds that she catches (safely!) and rings - the fieldfare bird video was taken in this garden, finding all he needed to ensure he had enough sustenance for his return journey to Scandinavia. Lots more videos of ponds and other works to come, I promise :) Take good care Ed, and thank you for your continued support, it really is appreciated - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton i appreciate content like this. Not just informative but inspiring. It such a rarity now a days to find people who are willing to step out of the norm and do something for nature. If we can somehow be cohesive collectively and think the way you think. We will have an amazing planet. Thank you. Can't wait for more videos
@@lvurbanfarming9001 Wow, thank you Ed - it really is the support and encouragement that keeps me going - with a day job to do and to try to create and upload so others can have a place to come for advice isn't easy, but it's very rewarding and the more spaces that work with nature rather than against it, the better - thank you for helping me to keep going - there will be many more videos to come of projects, more advice etc - I hope soon to be able to feature the gardens that other people have created - please stay tuned, working out a way I can make this happen :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
Excellent job, Joel👍. The old pond did need a bit of TLC but you and your crew did a fantastic job at rejuvenating and re-scaping it. I can't wait to see what the end result will be in the spring/summer when all those wildflowers are in bloom and wildlife starts using this awesome oasis (with or without the chickens😋). Really enjoyed the video as it really showcases how much work is needed to create a project of that size and the benefit of planning for a minimal maintenance approach and self-sustaining pond👌💕. Have a great week!!
Hello over there! Yes, it's certainly an improvement, the plants all have their feet in nicely at the moment and I can't wait until Spring and again in Summer to see the wildflowers at their peak - there are many other projects to be started soon at this site, but as you can see it's already a haven for a lot of wildlife, we'll be concentrating on making areas for the rarer butterflies, the amphibians will return early Spring too - they're no doubt hunkered down for the winter in much of the already provided habitat on site, there are so many different birds that pass through too - the fieldfare video was filmed at this client's and the lady is an experienced bird ringer, I'll hopefully be posting some of the birds with her at a later stage as I've taken a few short videos with her :) The chickens are quite funny and weren't perturbed at all by the machinery, in fact they found it a bonus as we were unearthing some tasty morsels I think! Take good care over there and enjoy the week too :) Joel
Hi Joel, thanks for your videos showing how to make a wildlife pond. We have just finished digging the pond - needed a skip to get rid of the stones and rubble. Also just realised you are one half of the Butterfly brothers - we have your book on wilding your garden. Thanks again.
Hi Christine - great to hear - I hope you saved the subsoil ;) Yep, although my brother isn't doing "this" anymore, he has moved to Poland now but it's made no difference to the operations here, all running the same :) Really glad the book has been helpful - did you know there is a website to accompany it? You can find everything mentioned in the book here: www.wildyourgarden.com - hope it proves as useful :) Best wishes, Joel
Beautiful...can you tell me please what kind of liner was used?
Hi. It was a 1mm butyl liner. We have them available here if you’re looking to buy one for your own project… 😊
wildyourgarden.com/product/firestone-pondgard-rubber-pond-liners-2-4m-to-4-9m/
Hell of a pond yes !! Impressive, i CAN'T WAIT for the update ! I clicked on this video looking for inspiration for my future (much smaller) pond, the tips about the leaves were really helpful since I plan, indeed, to build it under trees but see cleaning the leaves pretty much as a meditative practice... hoping I stick to this perspective once the pond exists hehehehe
Hello :) Thank you SO much for your kind words and support, it means a lot :) It won't be long until I show the pond again, when I was at the client's property last week they were all pushing through the soil, ready for Spring - I cannot wait to see it again - best wishes to you and good luck with your pond, I hope you enjoy the channel, there are some instruction videos on how to make the ponds like this - Joel
Can't seem to find your update video on this pond. Have you not gotten round to doing it? Really interested to see how the pond has grown.
Hi there - so sorry for the delay, there are a lot of videos to keep up with regarding comments, but I'm determined to answer everyone eventually :) I haven't managed to get back to this client's pond yet but I hope to in May/June this year - it's real difficult as I work all over the country so getting back to the same areas can prove hard. Am not sure if you have seen already but there is a short video on the channel of just a few of the many ponds I've created this way and how they look a few weeks later:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes - Joel
Another great video joel !😊😊👌👏
Really appreciate your work;-)
I love the chicken, he looks so gergous and when he eat foods ,he look so cute 🐓
Thank you and your team , who hard worked For nature !✊🌱🌿
This pond look very glorious !😍😘
God bless you and your team 🌼🌷
Thank you so much - the chickens certainly kept us amused and you can see the Chicken Team following us closely around the site to see what they can eat! Every effort is worth it for nature, it needs our help more than ever and everything needs water to live - I hope you are doing fine - keep in touch! Thank you again for all your support, it means a lot. Take care - Joel
Looking forward to an update!
It won't be long Tim - unfortunately the colder start to the year means the plants growth has been been put back by a couple of weeks, they're all doing well but I hoped for them to be more established by now, not long to go though and I have to go back to this job to do herbaceous perennial/shrub planting in a few weeks anyway so will be able to do an update video :) Best wishes, Joel
Great job! has the 2nd video been posted? What's the title to search for?
Hi there - unfortunately due to workload I've not managed to get back to this client's pond yet - although I'm doing my best to get back asap. However, if you wanted to see how these ponds establish after a few weeks, here's a short video of just a few of the many made using this method - it might help in the meantime :)
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes, and thanks for your support - many more videos to come! Joel
Such a big job and no better man to do it, unfortunately I am in Ireland and a tiny job lol, great stuff as always Mister J 😁
What a monumental effort - and what a result! Stunning! It will be great to see it revisited in maturity. I left off watching this one as I thought it would be too big to be of interest to me, but far from it. Same principles, just on a much bigger scale. I learn something valuable every time I visit your channel Joel. Thanks for your efforts. All the best.
Thank you Norman - not the largest we've done but it's certainly close :) I'll be back there soon to do an update video now it is starting to establish, the colder April than usual has meant that a lot of the plants are a few weeks behind - but it will certainly be a stunning pond once established - not long to go now though :) Best wishes, Joel
Loved seeing the proces. Also friendly presenting. And the comment at the end, tomorrow is planting day and it's going to be a hell of a pond. Like it totally.
Thank you so much - I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement, they make a difference :) Welcome to the channel, I hope you find more videos that help and that you enjoy - best wishes to you, Joel
Where do you get your rolls of liner from, and what specifically is it please
Hi Nicola - you can find everything you need right here, this is everything I personally use for pond and wildlife designs and creations - this is the liner:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
If you advise (enquiries@wildyourgarden.com) the size of pond you want to create then we can work out quantities for you. Best wishes - Joel
can you recommend what fleece and liner to use?
Hi Sara. Indeed I can. I set up a website to make these products available to all those people looking to make their own wildlife pond. Here’s a link. Let me know if you need any more info. Thank you 😊
wildyourgarden.com/product/firestone-pondgard-rubber-pond-liners-2-4m-to-4-9m/
Great video. I plan to build my own natural pond this year about a fifth to a quarter of this size of the one in the video. One potential problem I have is the field has moles. What is the best way to protect the pond liner from moles?
Hi Dave -so sorry for the delay in coming back to you, I don't seem to get all the YT notifications re comments left :/ However, if you use the butyl rubber liner and the double layer of industrial strength fleece (both available at www.wildyourgarden.com) then this will prevent any damage at all. Using the industrial fleece found on the online shop and the additional weight of the water once filled this will deter any moles - if you are really concerned you could always put a double layer of fleece under the liner. We're happy to answer questions via enquiries@wildyourgarden.com if you need any other help of course :) Best wishes, Joel
Hi I’m planning a similar size pond what depth does the centre need to be . Why Did to put fleece on top of the liner?
Hi Nicola, a pond this size is quite a feat, are you doing this yourself or having contractors to do it? As you can see, heavy plant is involved - if a contractor is doing the works I would ensure that they are au-fait with this style of pond install. I would aim for around 90-120cm, but any person taking on these works should be able to work this out. Hope that is helpful, am here if you need advice - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
We are doing it ourselves and have dug it out and built a lot of the land up as height differences were vast . I think we have a max depth of 800. Do you think this is too shallow. If I require a deeper area what m2 do you suggest at the deeper level. At the moment the size is 20m x 15m . Our sub soil is yellow with dolomite looking material in it. Can this be reused?
I know I'm very late to this , 2 years late, but an intake bay (with a pump) would really help with the leaves making it really easy to clean them out and help circulate the water giving the beneficial bacteria more to work with breaking down what leaves do sink in the pond. Just a th
Thanks for this advice Dave, it might help some people but all ponds that I make, unless specifically requested by the client, don't need any artificial pumps or filtration - but this is a good point. Best wishes, Joel
is it ideal to build a fish near a river or lake please , is concrete good for pond ?
Hi. It is fine to build a pond near a river or lake, yes. Concrete can be used but has more of an impact on the environment. I would recommend using a rubber butyl liner as these are made from recycled rubber. I hope that helps 😊
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks for your advice, where I have Rubber buty and do you know the cost per meter please
Hey Joel, have you posted the update video on this? If yes, please share the link. I browsed through all the videos, couldn't find it.
I Love your work man❤️
Hey Kaushal - Thank you so much, that means a lot :) Due to workload and working all over the UK, I've not managed to get back to this pond yet - I am not sure if you've seen this video of just a few of the many ponds made this way, but this shows smaller urban ponds and larger acre site ponds that have been made in this exact way and how they look after a few weeks when the plants have established:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
I hope this helps you in the meantime :) I really appreciate your kind words and support - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you Joel.. will view it..!
Thanks again and keep the great content coming our way❤️
@@kaushalbshetty398 You're very welcome Kaushal, thank you for your support and kind words - have a wonderful weekend and please stay in touch :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton will do!
I am from India. I have plans for a small pond... Hopefully I will be able to make it.. will let you know if I happen to create one😀
@@kaushalbshetty398 Thank you - if you need any help or advice please let me know, feel free to email me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com, would love to keep in touch! Best wishes to you and your family in India - Joel
fabulous pond! what's the depth at it's deepest?
Thank you Sara. It’s about 1.2/1.4m at the deepest point. Hope that helps 😊
Brilliant Joel love the chickens 🐓 too it looked like they kept getting in the way ?
Yes it does! They were pretty good though, definitely not put off by the machinery in any way and were more interested in what we were digging up - you might see some preventative netting at the very end of the video, this is just while the plants establish, otherwise we'd have gone back and they would have definitely had all the plants up - way too tempting! Can't wait to get to see it again when the plants are all established and the hornwort has woken up and started doing it's thing :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yeah me too looking forward to when it comes to life in spring /summer. Did you find many amphibians and insects in the pond ?
@@UkAmphibians There were no frogs and amphibians at the time, being winter etc they'd already moved off to a vast amount of habitat in the client's field, it's an absolute haven there. We did find a good few damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, the hornwort took some going through too but we put them in large buckets until the pond had been established a few days and of course there will be many more visitors in the Spring :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshtonnice one amazing work Joel looking forward to seeing the updated video 🐸
Great work! Your water is blue, it doesn't make much sense to me, are you adding some type of colorant?
Thanks
Hi there, thank you so much for your encouragement and support. The client here was very lucky to be on "chalk" ground so this affected the colour of the water and gave it this fabulous "blue" look. If you google "Plitvice Lakes, Croatia" you will see an example of what this chalk base can create, they're pretty spectacular. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Is there an update/followup to this video? Very curious how it is getting on a year later
Hey Dan, trying to squeeze in a visit to this pond in late Spring/early Summer, due to working all over the country and a tight schedule it means I have to be within an hour or so of the site, but I'm working on it :) Not sure if you've seen this video of other established ponds, but it might be of interest in the meantime:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'll check them out, we have a fairly large pond on our property that has decades of silt built up so have been looking for tips on how to refurbish/renew it. Great video and work by the way, thanks for the reply
@@RealWolfmanDan You're welcome Dan, let me know if you need any help/advice - best wishes - Joel
Absolutely stunning!!! I want one in my yard!! Will you come to the States to build me one????
Hello over there! I've had several requests for this from the USA, and a request from a pond-liner supplier to provide a few videos and work with them. I would absolutely love to do these in the USA, it would take some planning of course but I'll be sure to let you know if I head your way :) Stay safe over there, best wishes to you and yours - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton .... awesome!!! anytime!!!
What are the two liners you laid out for your pond?
Hi there - this is Butyl Rubber EPDM liner, it's recommended by greenpeace due to it's longevity and it being made from recycled tyres - the white fabric is industrial fleece. If you're in the UK I can let you know where to buy it. If it's not available in your country then carpet underlay can also be used instead of the fleece as of course the subsoil covers this :) Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
I’m looking for off grid wild life pound to build. thanks
I have a question...
Making ponds will help ground water rise?? Or just ...
Hi Sachin - I have never had a problem with any flooding with these ponds, the subsoil top layer and of course the plants that are planted into this soil help to evaporate a lot of water after any heavy downpours - I hope this is helpful - best wishes to you and yours - Joel
Have the updates been loaded yet?
Hi there Rob - unfortunately due to workload I've not managed to get back to this pond yet - it will no doubt have to be in the Spring next year now, but you might find this short video of interest (if you've not seen it already!) about how they establish in a very short time:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes - Joel
Just a few mins in and wow, that's a lot of work, loving the transformation. I have a ton of hornwort in my fish tanks I love that stuff, did you know it absorbs nitrates, ammonia, carbon dioxide and phosphates, also keeps algae down. It's Great for pond fish too! Really beautiful plant🌿 Thank you for another awesome video, love the chicken in the time laspe 🐔 running back & forth.
I'm really thankful I searched for how to make a backyard pond back when I discovered your channel, because your channel doesn't disappoint 😊 God bless you and everyone who sees this! ✝️
Edit: ok, this is amazing you basically build a natural swimming pool in the freezing cold. I need an update when those plants grow in! 🌸
Wow, thank you so much! It's certainly beautiful and will be more so come this Spring when I go back, not long to go now - absolutely agree re the hornwort, you can't beat it for it's benefits and it can go someway to negate the use of electric pumps, even with fish. The chickens weren't perturbed by use of the machinery, although due to the timelapse it does look as though a few "disappeared" near the machinery - no animals were harmed during the making of this film (etc etc!) - your consistent support means so much - best wishes and stay safe (and busy!) - Joel
Hi , great vid . I live in East Sussex and tend to get past few years very hot summers that dries the pond, is that ok to let the pond dry up or should I keep topping it up with water ? Also if it's ok to let the pond dry up then end of September I can clear up the leaves fallen from trees over winter. One last question is: how long does it take for frogs to change from tadpoles to baby frogs and leave the pond as last year (my first year of having a pond) there were large number of tadpole that seem to never want to change to baby frogs even though summer was coming to an end ??? Cheers
Hi Reza, I had the same in my pond last year too, a few of the tadpoles staying in their semi-grown stages - sometimes it can be because it's a new pond, there's insufficient algae (one of their food sources) that has developed, they then overwinter and if they survive then they turn into frogs the next year. These over-wintering ones can often have an advantage as they develop for the Spring and can make the most of the new available food sources. Ponds in nature often dry up and the creatures learn to "live" with this, however for smaller sources I would recommend a top-up - you can use tap water, the chlorine should dissipate within 48 hours - topping up can ensure bathing/drinking water for birds etc and when you start getting dragonflies laying, it's important for the larvae of course - it's always good to rake the leaves as you see them, every other day etc - hope that helps Reza, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank u. visiting my garden this morning as I do every morning in this lockdown days I found pair of mating frogs!!! Isnt that too early ? Last year the mating pairs started to pop toward end of February???
@@rezaamini2388 Hi Reza, if it's a relatively milder winter then it's not uncommon to see them mating end Jan/beginning of Feb, not sure where you are in the country but it's relatively mild today here in the South East - it could be a factor :) Nice to see though, some optimism and signs Spring is not far... :)
Hi, Joel. Great work. Any suggestions for where I might find some fleece like you use? Thanks, I very much enjoy your videos.
Hello! My apologies, I saw your other comment on the channel and pointed you to this pond.. sorry - you have seen it now - are you in the UK?
You may have seen already - but there are instructions in the videos here for building the same pond in the small pond time-lapse:
th-cam.com/video/lKrjMv6TMlU/w-d-xo.html
As above, let me know where you live and I'll do my best to help with the fleece :)
Another great video, thank you for everything you do! I planted some perennial wildflower plugs in autumn and was wondering if they will flower this spring/summer coming? I have asked google and TH-cam many times but can’t seem to find an answer so was hoping you could enlighten me? Thank you
Hi there Spencer - I'm happy to help of course :) Absolutely they will flower if perennial and planted in the autumn, so look forward to some colour and more importantly insects etc soon - I am doing another live Q&A this Sunday at 3pm (GMT) if you have time to join us - it's a great community on there and I'm of course happy to answer any further questions you have - you can also leave a comment underneath the videos of course. Thank you for your positive response, it's very encouraging in making more videos - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton oh fantastic news! That’s just what I wanted to hear. I’ve also got some annual seed I can sow so it should be a very good year for insects in my garden! Thank you for the reply. And yes I will be attending that, I was at the last one and enjoyed it thoroughly! No problem at all, I love your channel and the work you do, it’s great! Thank you very much and I’ll catch you Sunday! Take care and best wishes.
@@spencersanderson1894 Comments like yours really do make my day! Great to hear that you're returning to join us again this Sunday - I've worked hard on getting the next one to happen without those few glitches like last time - I'm really looking forward to it already - yes, the more nectar plants the more insects and therefore the more natural food for birds come Spring when their young need these insects to provide moisture, bird feeders are vital in the winter months but come Spring unless mealworms are provided there's little else apart from insects to give the young the best chance - look forward to seeing you on Sunday - take care too, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton sorry about the long reply! I’m glad to hear that I really am. And yes it was good last time I learnt a lot from replies to people’s questions, yes there was a few but apart from that it was very good! And yes I try to encourage as many butterfly as well so they can lay there caterpillars and make a good food source for the birds and their young! See you Sunday take care and best wishes.
@@spencersanderson1894 Hey, no need to apologise Spencer :) Sorry for my late reply, youtube tends to alert me now and again and I have to trawl the comments to ensure I've addressed everything. I really do value your support and am absolutely thrilled that there are so many like-minded people - I shall continue to provide free advice and videos as long as I know it's making a real difference, despite the time it can take - can't wait for tomorrow! :)
I can’t find part 2 of this garden you going to shows a video in spring. Did you make one yet?
Hi Cindy - my apologies, haven't quite managed to get back there yet - such a busy workload, but I will do soon - I work all over the country so trying to get back to the same place has proven difficult, but I'm happy there are more and more new habitats :) There is a video here on the channel which shows how they establish, it might be of interest in the meantime:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes to you Cindy - Joel
Was that filled with mains tap water?
Certainly was Christopher, although more than one water butt on this client's property there was no way two or three would fill this sized pond. Tap water is fine, in the UK, the chlorine dissipates in a week or so and the way I create and plant these ponds means that I never have to use filtration/pump systems, it's all down to the set-up and planting. I'm actually back here creating another large pond for the client so am also doing an update on this one while I'm there - coming soon :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton OK thanks I'm new to wildlife ponds and here to get tips before I create my own with the intention of creating one targeting and boosting amphibian numbers as there has been a dramatic decline in recent years. I've been looking and learning, the last video said no tap water because of Chlorine and nitrates and yes I always thought Chlorine would quick;y disappear. I'm very interested in your non filtration setup, I was thinking two pool setup with raised pool feeding lower via a drop to oxygenate during these very hot summers we're getting. Is my thinking wrong? Have you done a video I can see? Thanks for your reply I can see you love your work.
@@christophernunn943 Hi there Chris, not a problem at all. I've been creating ponds without any filtration (aside from the plants!) for over 20 years and none have failed. If you wanted to drop me a line at enquiries@wildyourgarden.com I will happily take time out to help advise so that another vital habitat for nature is created - it's much easier for me to keep up with emails than YT notifications as some do get missed, but I can also point you in the direction of the right videos on the channel and if possible if you could send a photo or two of the garden and area you'd like the pond that would help, moving forward☺Best wishes, Joel
11:30 you can see what looks like either a slow worm or newt in the bottom right corner in the mud moving around
Hi Dan, I see what you mean, but I am certain it's just leaf movement in the wind, it was the depths of winter, and the timelapse makes it seem like it's moving faster than it is :) Well spotted though! Best wishes, Joel
Wow
😊👍 Stay tuned for more pond creations coming soon 👍
hello ,,I GREETING YOU FROM BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA..I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT DID YOU PUT INTO THE POND? IS IT SAND OR GROUND?
Thanks for all your Great videos! Looking forward to the update. Do you ever add any wildlife in ponds?
(I mean like a starter ecosystem)
Hi there Karna :) With this particular pond there was already a great deal of life in there, which we removed and placed in the containers until it was completed again. I don't add anything, frogs will travel around a mile to find water sources, newts too and dragonflies etc will soon find water. Amazingly the eggs of many species will be transferred from water body to water body via bird's feet and of course dragonflies etc will find their own way. You can buy water snails etc if you wanted to add life immediately, but I hope that helps - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I did not know that. That is awesome. Been wondering how they got around. Thanks! :-)
Hi
Any reason you do not include a schemer to remove top debris and biological filter to maintain the pond?
Hi Marcus - there is a 3 part instructional video on how and more importantly why the ponds I make are created using this method here. No biological filter is needed for these wildlife ponds, the natural oxygenating plants help to keep them clear - you can see a few of the many I've created using this method over 16 years now :-
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Hope this is helpful - best wishes, Joel
Thanks and will look into it.
Would have loved the moor hens chillin with these chickens 😂..
They will be back on the pond in Spring (the Moorhens, not the chickens!) so they will no doubt be there when I revisit in around 6-8 weeks - I'll make sure they're on the video if they're there and I'll ask the clients what they think of each other! Hope you're doing well - stay safe Ameed - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton i guess the moorhens would be scared of them chickens ...and kind of territorial...
P.s ...that beard transition though....
@@Tuppyandizzy Hahaha! Brilliant - or do you mean one of the chickens had a beard :-0 The moorhens have a raft so the chickens keep a safe distance :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 🤣🤣🤣 yeah ..i called the wattle the beard...😂
Haha! I was thinking... "I suppose my beard did get longer during the video..." - definitely going to call the wattles beards from now though - and definitely going to get some more chicken footage when I return... :)
What’s the name of the follow-up video pls? I can’t find it.
Thanks!
Hi Lorna - apologies, but working all over the country means that it's proven difficult to get back to this particular site to show it afterwards. The client has sent a few photos but not enough to make a worthwhile video of course - I do plan to get back there but in the meantime, forgive me if you've seen them, these two videos will show similar ponds and how they establish:
th-cam.com/video/9zYt1nP3TY0/w-d-xo.html
and
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
3:56 -> You blokes are fast workers!
Haha! Thank you Paul - sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, I've been away for 10 days and then back to client works, just catching up with everyone now - best wishes, Joel
Looks great! Would the pond work with no lining? I would like to make a natural pond like this one but I prefer no lining.
Hi Cameron. It would potentially work without a liner but would depend on the soil underneath. If it is a heave clay, chances are it will hold water most of the year. There is of course always the risk of the pond drying out in the summer and the invertebrates suffering of course. Hope that helps?
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yes it does thanks 👍
@@cameronm.6797 good stuff. Here if you have any more questions 👍
Could anyone be so kind to explain to me, why there are plastic sheets placed underneath the stony foundation layer of the pond? By usind those sheets isn't it the same as a sealed concrete surface? Or is the plastic layer able to let some water pass to soak into the ground?
Hi there - so sorry for the delay but it's really difficult trying to keep up with comments, I hope I am not too late or you think that I was ignoring you :) There is a layer of white fleece, which protects the liner, then another layer of fleece on top of the liner, this not only offers further protection but allows the planting to be directly into the soil. The subsoil used (it is important that it is the low-nutrient subsoil) also helps to keep the water clear, along with the natural oxygenating plants and broad-leaved cover, like native lilies etc - I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Please show us the dragonfly larvae and how to preserve it. Thank you.
Hello there - I will be doing an update on this pond real soon as the plants are coming back to life now - but I have done a previous video showing the larvae in a large pond - you can see it here:
th-cam.com/video/3StRdYD_w5A/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you!
what was the white liner you put on top of the main liner?
Hi there - this is fleece, but you can put underlay etc - it's just to ensure the liner is protected from both sides and of course allows the subsoil for planting directly into - it all looks more natural, aside from ensuring the liner is in good use for many many years :) Hope that is helpful, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I appreciate the reply from one pond builder to another always great to see what people do I really like the natural look to your ponds and love the channel :)
@@CoralMan24 Thank you, so much! I am quite overwhelmed by the support and nice people I've "met" via this channel, I am so keen that everyone knows as much as possible about making habitats for wildlife, not only the creatures benefit but so do the people that create them, rewarded soon with so much life and all in their back gardens :) Really appreciate you taking the time to leave such positive comments :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I can't wait to see what projects you take on this pond season :)
@@CoralMan24 Thank you :) There are certainly a few lined up - if you see the London Garden Renovation video posted recently, we are about to install a pond there too - although the weather is having an impact the last few days - I will be doing regular updates on that garden :) Stay safe, and thank you again for your support - it's appreciated - best wishes, Joel
Lovely pond! Surprised you didn’t seal it with bentonite clay.
Hi Asher, I've not had to use the method using bentonite due to the low-nutrient subsoils we have here, they ensure that not only can plants be put easily straight into the soil, the low nutrient content ensures that they stay clear, with help from the natural oxygenators of course :) Best wishes, and thanks for your support - Joel
Hi Joel, where do you source your subsoil from? I can find lots of top soil suppliers near me but no sub soil sources for my pond. Thanks, Ben
Hi Ben, if I need additional subsoil to that which is excavated from the pond dig then I do have bulk subsoil but this is delivered in relatively huge quantities - I do know of some suppliers that will supply in tonne bags but it depends where you are - if you send an email to hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com with the area you are living in then I will do my utmost to help. Best wishes, Joel
Thanks Joel, that’s very kind of you. I have managed to find a corner of my garden which can spare some barrows, it’s quite poor sandy soil so hopefully will do the trick. Pond is filling up as we speak. Your videos have been the most helpful I have found so cheers!
The chickens who kept investigating the pond 😂
I know! When I watched the footage back it does seem that they were lucky to escape the digger etc, but of course in real-life they weren't that fast, but just as funny ;) Best wishes, Joel
Really well presented and loads of good information, well done mate !!
My pond knowledge is really limited but the term eutrophication springs to mind if memory serves about pond pollution build up?
Good to see the wildlife being preserved . . . but where did those chickens escape from 😁😉👍
Hi! Thanks for leaving such a positive comment, I really do appreciate it :) Yep, the chickens look liked they disappeared in a few segments of the video but all safe! They followed us everywhere, as you can see - intrigued by what we were digging up no doubt. Yep, eutrophication but this pond was more affected by the leaf litter build up - loved that Tudor Clay path you laid, impressive! Keep in touch - best wishes to you, Joel
Hi Joel
I have read elsewhere not to add soil of any type to a pond due to it introducing nutrients. I've watched another pond creation video where plants are planted directly into gravel. What are your thoughts on that?
Hi there :) I've used this method for over 16 years now and it has not failed yet. You are right in that general soil will increase nutrients, this is why we use only subsoil which has minimal nutrients and allows for planting directly into the soil, negating the use of plastic baskets etc - there is also no artificial filtration needed to keep these ponds clear - you can see just a few of the many ponds created in this video here:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton it sure does! Thanks for the reply x 2🙂
@@alisdar1234 You are very welcome :) I hope you enjoy the channel and that it is helpful. Have a good weekend, Joel
How much did it all cost?
Hi there - we don't divulge what clients spend unfortunately, particularly if a husband wants a larger pond! ;) Joking aside though, it is difficult to give a general cost for a pond this size as it depends on whether the client wants boulders, the size, access to the property, man-hours required, distance and the soil already available - needless to say they're worth every penny :) Best wishes, Joel
Is that a snake 11:00 at 5 o clock position (SSE) bottom of screen?
Hi there! Sorry for the delay, I don't always get notifications of comments but this has been seen before, it's not a snake or a newt but it does look like it due to the time-lapse element! I believe it's just leaves moving around :) Best wishes, Joel
Really enjoy your pond ideas. Do you have problems preventing mosquitoes using the pond to hatch larvae?
Hi Pep - sorry for the delay - I think I answered this on another video but same applies, once these natural habitats are set up nature does take care of "itself" - these water bodies encourage lots of larger insects (dragonflies etc), amphibians, birds and bats - they all help to make a dent in any mosquito population - here's a quick video on how soon these ponds attract the right insects:
th-cam.com/video/Ygxze7QZPa4/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps Pep - best wishes, Joel
Mosquito fish
Hey mate wonderful video! Was just curious wasn’t sure if you mentioned it but what is the point of the liner? I know it would probably have something to do with keeping the mud out but would it be a viable option to line the pond with rocks or no?
Also is it to help the water stay? I imagine without a inflow it would be possible for the Pond to dry up
Hi there Joey, it is indeed for water retention, the fleece and soil both protect the liner and of course mean that they last a lot longer than those without protection, both above and below. The fleece also allows us to place the subsoil in, and around the edges of the pond (we do use topsoil if insufficient subsoil available for planting edges on smaller ponds), meaning we can plant straight into it, negating the use for plastic baskets etc. I hope that helps - I'm here if you have any other questions and am happy to help :) Best wishes, Joel
Sorry - didn't see your second comment - but yes, I hope the answer above (or below!) this one is helpful - Joel
Hi i was just wondering how does the pond get its amazing blue color ? I know some people are using natural dyes..was it the light beige subsoil giving the color?
Hi Mekaal :) Spot on! You are correct, it is a chalk-based subsoil found naturally on the site, where we will also be using it to make chalk-banks in the meadow areas - no dyes in this one, although they are used quite a lot these days, it's always natural for me though :) Really appreciate your kind comments, hope you enjoy the channel, there's lots to see here - best wishes to Mekaal, Joel
Hi Joel, great work! Could I ask what the fleece is you are using under and on top of the liner, is it just a woven geotex ?
Regards Joe
Hi Joe - sorry for the delay - it's known as a needled-felt underlay, anything can be used though, old carpet etc - hope that helps - thanks for your kind comment, best wishes - Joel
What is the size ?
Hi there - sorry for the delay, it's been difficult keeping up with everyone - but this pond is 10m x 20m - hope this helps :) Best wishes, Joel
Has the update been done yet ?
Hi Matt, due to work schedules (work obviously takes priority for everyone) I've not managed to get back to this client's pond yet, but I aim to as soon as I'm in the area. I work all over the country so it's difficult to take time out at the moment. I'll be sure to do an update on this. Forgive me if you've seen it already but there's a short video here of just a few of the ponds made over the last 17 years using this method, and how they look once established:
th-cam.com/video/jG1w7MUhhXs/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps in the meantime - best wishes, Joel
What a brilliant pond ! Just wanted to ask did you find any frogs or newts when emptying the old pool would think there would be some 🐼
Hi Heather, sorry for delay in responding - we didn't find any in the pond as they would had likely moved to a different habitat for winter - anything from another animal's burrow, or inside a compost heap or log stack but they do need to keep damp - some frogs overwinter in ponds but very deep down and this pond was pretty murky before - newts apparently prefer murky water but there are two other old ponds on the site so they may well have been in and around, both amphibians have been seen in the pond in the spring and summer months :) Any life we did find we kept in the large buckets or transferred them to the other ponds on site - best wishes, Joel
I have a pond less than half that size and the cost of the liner was eye watering...I would not want to be paying for a liner of this size...🥴...nice job though guys..
Hi Ian. Thanks for commenting. Yes - liners get pretty expensive when they get this big, but it’s a process that only takes place once, then the pond should (in theory) exist indefinitely 😊👍 Hope you’re well.
If you are going to have trees around a pond, would evergreens be preferrable so you don't have the leaf drop into the water? Also, would some tall-ish grasses help block leaves before they blow unto the pond?
Evergreen trees drop leaves too, but they do it gradually throughout the year instead of all at once like deciduous trees. This means that removing them from the pond will be even more work.
Also evergreen leaves break down more slowly so they can easily build up in the water
Great stuff bun. Question; what is the advantage of using that liner versus let’s say large rocks?
Rocks can't stop the water from being absorbed by the soil
Hi Joel - we are in the process of building a wildlife pond using the same technique you advocate. I have to order the stone to be delivered, mainly for the well part and I wondered if you had a rule of thumb to try and estimate the quantity - it looks like the best value is buying 1000Kg at a time - around 40 - 50 200mm - 300mm stones. It might make an interesting video for you to go over this bit?
I will of course be buying the liner and underlay and plants from you.
We now have 5 badgers visiting the garden, along with a few foxes and a tawny owl. My concern is what the badgers will do to the pond liner - I hope by providing 2 beaches they will not decide to just plunge into it and risk the liner. Any suggestions? - here is a video with 4 of them - th-cam.com/video/2BwCzKISELM/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=MarkBarton you can just see the outline of the pond we are starting to dig.
Hi Mark - thank you for this - could you send an email to me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com and I can advise further, I'll need to know the size of pond etc of course :) I'll also have a look at the video when I get a chance, but I doubt the badgers will do damage, I've never heard of it before - catch up soon, best wishes - Joel
Just seen the video! They're quite a size but what a healthy looking family - I couldn't leave a comment as the video is set "for kids", this used to confuse me when I first started YT as it seems like you're stating "it's suitable for kids" but when selecting that it actually means it's intended for kids, and comment facility is then disabled :/ Great video though :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel - I find the Eufy Security SoloCam E40 works well as a wildlife camera (when on offer) - assuming your are within wifi range its much better than a camera trap
@@markbarton That's good to know Mark, thank you :)
I was expecting this to be a natural clay lining.
Hi Terry, the soil on the site is better than any clay - it is quite chalk-heavy which produced the beautiful blue tint in the water, I was at the site again yesterday and the plants are starting to wake up now, I'll be doing an update video on this pond real soon - best wishes, Joel
Looks like Saul Canelo.
Alvarez... haha - you're not the first to say that! ;) Thanks Jae
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton both undisputed too
Great work, but the same music over and over again is a bit annoying.,
Thank you - it is difficult to find music to please everyone, hopefully you enjoyed the parts where I was talking and there was no music at all ;) Best wishes, Joel
Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton Absolutely! May be you are willing to answer a question: why or why shouldn’t you put stones or soil over lining on the bottom or edges if you are building a pond for wildlife? Mostly people advise against it, but you did in this video.
Are you willing to say how much you charged for this work? (not to criticize, just out of interest, its very labour intensive a skilled).
Canelo
🤣If only I had his money.... or his right-hook!
nice but KILL the music"
the choice of music is soo aggressive.. like "look! this is epic! look at it!" and i find the timelapse sequences to be to long. imo
Thanks for your opinion. That wasn’t my intention of course and not all music will appeal to all. Hope you like the music on the next video! 😊👍
Glorified selfie.
I’m confused… what part of this is ‘natural’? Sorry… I was expecting something other than 100% man made and artificial 🤷♂️
Apologies for any confusion, these are deemed natural looking as opposed to exposed liner, fibreglass pre-formed ponds, stones placed on liner to "disguise" excess, no artificial filtration or pumps needed (like you see in expensive koi set-ups due waste from the fish). The EPDM rubber is recycled, and recommended by Greenpeace as it's made from discarded tyres. They're purely to attract wildlife :)
I love your videos but I have to mute them when you put that crazy music on. It's gardening, it's natural, how about something a little less techno? Sorry, none of my business I'll just keep doing it on mute
Hi. Thanks for commenting. I just try and select music for the different videos that go with the theme of the video. Sorry this one wasn’t to your taste, but hopefully many are. Thanks for commenting 😊👍
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes I apologize, I also comment on your other great videos and how much I like them. My comment was out of line.
@@jmo2104 not at all! I appreciate the feedback 😊 Hope you’re well and thank you for the support 👍