Here in the Netherlands herons are an issue as well. I only have a small pond, and to combat the herons I ended up recycling an old frame from a fancy party tent that happened to be green and it happened to fit exactly across my pond, and I then I took electric fence wire and installed it around the frame using the frame as a support for the wire insulators. In the beginning I had it energized, and that made all the difference. But now I don't even have it energized anymore and it still works. The space between the height from the wires is about 30 cm or one foot. It keeps the pond still easy accessible for maintenance, and you can easily get between the wires if you need to. And the wires are either green or black, very durable and very strong, with a couple of thin strains of stainless steel wire, and I find it to be far less intrusive in regards to the view at the pond compared to netting. I understand that it is not always an option to do it like I did. But it might be an option for people with a smaller pond to make something similar. It doesn't need to be an old frame from a party tent. You can also install wooden posts that follows the contours from the pond. Just keep in mind that an energized electric fence should not be in contact with plants. But as I said, I don't have it energized anymore, and I am even thinking about removing the wire insulators, just to make things look nicer. And during the winter season the plants are often not even a problem for an electric fence, so you can also energize it in the winter and turn it off during the warm months when the plants come in contact with the wires, if that's the case at all in your particular situation. I have no scientific proof of what I am about to say, but I think that herons know what electric fencing is and that they understand that the the wires shock them when the touch the wire. Or I believe that at least the older ones do. And if they come in contact with an energized wire they will learn pretty quickly. It doesn't hurt them permanently though, it is perfectly safe for humans and animals. it is just an unpleasant feeling. There is plenty space between the wires in my setup, but it still keeps the herons out even when it is not energized at all. They still come and visit my garden, and they still try to find a weak spot, but eventually they just fly away. And as far as I can tell all my fish are still there. For the top of the frame I also used the same electric fence wire because of the color and the durability. It doesn't deteriorate by the sun, and it is not so obstructive to the eye, and it is very affordable. Often you can't even see the wire because it blends in so well with the pond and the background. Especially at night the wire is barely visible or even not visible at all. But on the top I installed it in a net configuration with a wide square weave that is about 20 cm wide. The frame is high enough, so the net weave at the top doesn't obstruct my view on the pond. I like to recycle things, but I can imagine that it can be done with fancy good looking materials. My point is that to my experience the electric fence wire is far less intrusive and annoying to the eye compared to a net directly across the water. And there is no need to use the wire in an energized configuration, and there is no need for the ugly insulators. Just use the wire and that will work perfectly fine against herons, as long as you can also do something about the top if the herons have a place to land and stand inside your pond. 👍
Hi Ed, where can I purchase them pop up water bowsers you use? I can’t find them on the internet maybe I’m calling them by the wrong name. I need one before I can clean my bog filter out for the winter. Cheers pal 👍
Beautiful pond. I have a much smaller pond and a river, now the river is maybe 7 foot long and there’s always huge amounts of water loss when I turn it off. I’ve checked for leaks and there aren’t any. Water runs through pebbles, I can have the river running for 1 hour and the pond drops about 2 inches when rivers turned off.
Hi there, Thanks for your comment. Does this water loss only occur once you have switched off the stream or is it a continual loss whilst the stream is running? If the former this is very common and is as a result of the stream draining back into the pond once the pump has been switched off, over filling the pond and then being lost into the surrounding ground. Once the system is then switched back on a certain amount of water from the pond is used up to get the stream to flow back into the pond and it is then that the apparent water loss is obvious- the pond level looks low and will require topping up. This happens every time the pump is switched off and I’m afraid is a design/construction error. The main sump/pond that the stream flows into must be of a large enough volume to accommodate not only filling the stream to the point of overflow but also to hold the streams overall volume itself, ensuring when this drains back into the pond the pond doesn’t overflow. Ideally the stream/cascade should have been constructed as such that it retains water when switched off, ensuring only minimal water is required from the pond to get the stream to the point of overflow back into the pond. If your noting a water loss when the system is running however this could be either from a leak in the lining, insufficient overlap between the pond and cascade lining, debris/plant build up within the cascade causing water to back up beyond the lining and causing this to overflow and lose water... if so the stream will need to be emptied of all stone/plants and thoroughly inspected for potential damage. Hope this helps! Best, Ed
Thanks for your comment! I know it may sound a bit mean for the fish that are being removed-but many of them were rescues already from another pond and we weren’t aware quite how many of them would be so dark in colour. Rather then add more colourful fish and risk overstocking the pond it was more sensible to remove some of the unwanted fish (particularly as we had the opportunity of having found a new home for them!) to free up a little space for some new genetics in the pond! Best, Ed
I've just discovered your channel a day or so ago. These ponds are beautiful. Wish more people in the us had them.
Thanks for your awesome comment and welcome to the channel!!
Cheers,
Ed
Here in the Netherlands herons are an issue as well. I only have a small pond, and to combat the herons I ended up recycling an old frame from a fancy party tent that happened to be green and it happened to fit exactly across my pond, and I then I took electric fence wire and installed it around the frame using the frame as a support for the wire insulators. In the beginning I had it energized, and that made all the difference. But now I don't even have it energized anymore and it still works. The space between the height from the wires is about 30 cm or one foot. It keeps the pond still easy accessible for maintenance, and you can easily get between the wires if you need to. And the wires are either green or black, very durable and very strong, with a couple of thin strains of stainless steel wire, and I find it to be far less intrusive in regards to the view at the pond compared to netting.
I understand that it is not always an option to do it like I did. But it might be an option for people with a smaller pond to make something similar. It doesn't need to be an old frame from a party tent. You can also install wooden posts that follows the contours from the pond. Just keep in mind that an energized electric fence should not be in contact with plants. But as I said, I don't have it energized anymore, and I am even thinking about removing the wire insulators, just to make things look nicer. And during the winter season the plants are often not even a problem for an electric fence, so you can also energize it in the winter and turn it off during the warm months when the plants come in contact with the wires, if that's the case at all in your particular situation.
I have no scientific proof of what I am about to say, but I think that herons know what electric fencing is and that they understand that the the wires shock them when the touch the wire. Or I believe that at least the older ones do. And if they come in contact with an energized wire they will learn pretty quickly. It doesn't hurt them permanently though, it is perfectly safe for humans and animals. it is just an unpleasant feeling. There is plenty space between the wires in my setup, but it still keeps the herons out even when it is not energized at all. They still come and visit my garden, and they still try to find a weak spot, but eventually they just fly away. And as far as I can tell all my fish are still there.
For the top of the frame I also used the same electric fence wire because of the color and the durability. It doesn't deteriorate by the sun, and it is not so obstructive to the eye, and it is very affordable. Often you can't even see the wire because it blends in so well with the pond and the background. Especially at night the wire is barely visible or even not visible at all. But on the top I installed it in a net configuration with a wide square weave that is about 20 cm wide. The frame is high enough, so the net weave at the top doesn't obstruct my view on the pond.
I like to recycle things, but I can imagine that it can be done with fancy good looking materials. My point is that to my experience the electric fence wire is far less intrusive and annoying to the eye compared to a net directly across the water. And there is no need to use the wire in an energized configuration, and there is no need for the ugly insulators. Just use the wire and that will work perfectly fine against herons, as long as you can also do something about the top if the herons have a place to land and stand inside your pond. 👍
Its great to see how a pond has matured
It’s incredible how quickly a pond establishes and how much it visually changes when planting matures.
Thanks for your comment!
looks great Ed, i have been waiting to see how those plants mature in this one :)
Thanks Paul-always nice to see how a new pond establishes!
Wow, What an amazing pond. Great video, keep them coming 😉
Thank you sir!😉
Hi Ed, where can I purchase them pop up water bowsers you use? I can’t find them on the internet maybe I’m calling them by the wrong name. I need one before I can clean my bog filter out for the winter. Cheers pal 👍
Beautiful pond. I have a much smaller pond and a river, now the river is maybe 7 foot long and there’s always huge amounts of water loss when I turn it off. I’ve checked for leaks and there aren’t any. Water runs through pebbles, I can have the river running for 1 hour and the pond drops about 2 inches when rivers turned off.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. Does this water loss only occur once you have switched off the stream or is it a continual loss whilst the stream is running?
If the former this is very common and is as a result of the stream draining back into the pond once the pump has been switched off, over filling the pond and then being lost into the surrounding ground. Once the system is then switched back on a certain amount of water from the pond is used up to get the stream to flow back into the pond and it is then that the apparent water loss is obvious- the pond level looks low and will require topping up. This happens every time the pump is switched off and I’m afraid is a design/construction error. The main sump/pond that the stream flows into must be of a large enough volume to accommodate not only filling the stream to the point of overflow but also to hold the streams overall volume itself, ensuring when this drains back into the pond the pond doesn’t overflow. Ideally the stream/cascade should have been constructed as such that it retains water when switched off, ensuring only minimal water is required from the pond to get the stream to the point of overflow back into the pond.
If your noting a water loss when the system is running however this could be either from a leak in the lining, insufficient overlap between the pond and cascade lining, debris/plant build up within the cascade causing water to back up beyond the lining and causing this to overflow and lose water... if so the stream will need to be emptied of all stone/plants and thoroughly inspected for potential damage.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Ed
question about what's the benefit not having gravel or stone in the bottom of the pond
What is the net made from?
Could U do a video on how these are made?
I’m across the pond. The US has nothing like this.
Sadly my ubderstanding is still hat the lack fish are a sign of good luck.
That pond needs a good clean out with a pond vac and jet wash looks like it full off blanket weed
The fish aren’t pretty enough for the owner, so they’re being booted out. Seems weird to me.
However, great video as always.
Thanks for your comment! I know it may sound a bit mean for the fish that are being removed-but many of them were rescues already from another pond and we weren’t aware quite how many of them would be so dark in colour. Rather then add more colourful fish and risk overstocking the pond it was more sensible to remove some of the unwanted fish (particularly as we had the opportunity of having found a new home for them!) to free up a little space for some new genetics in the pond!
Best,
Ed