There are plenty of toads at our place, but they like hanging out in all the wrong places and last week I had to collect one from the B&B where it had decided to investigate one of our guest’s belongings! As there are no water sources on our land, I’ve got plans to make a big pond in the field, but in the meantime we need a smaller pond to attract all the right creatures into the vegetable patch. Even a tiny pond is an important resource for all the birds, insects and little creatures that call our garden their home, so it’s high time I met their needs.
Making a quick pond couldn’t be easier if you can get your hands on an old iron bath. Yes, you can dig a hole and put plastic liner in, but baths get chucked out often and as they are designed to hold water all the work has been done for you. They are also free, always a plus point! No matter how small your garden, you should be able to find a corner big enough for a bath pond, and you’ll do wonders for your garden’s biodiversity.
My bathpond has been dropped into a hole so that it’s at ground level. The pots are waiting for some reeds which someone is giving me. There are plenty of places for creatures to get in and out of the water (logs, stones, etc) . The tiles around the edge are really just to hide the stark white of the bath, but they have the added benefit of creating little spaces where small toads, etc. could hide. Just out of shot is a pile of rotting logs and various nooks and crannies for who ever wants them. Now the bath is in place, I’ll also be able to plant around it so that there’s vegetation around the edges. The tyre at the end will be home to a comfrey plant. If the plan works my various toads should spend more time in the veg patch munching those darn slugs and less time trying to get inside the knickers of my guests!
Rosie said
We hope to have our pond finished very soon – hole is dug and liner has arrived – so we just need to find the time to put it all together. Now would be a good time what with all the rain we are having and I’m sure the toad I trip over most evenings will be appreciative of a new pond.
Dagny McKinley said
I love the consideration you have for the little creatures. I know they appreciate your efforts.
Dagny
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Jon in France said
Now that is just brilliant. And timely too – we’re about to tear out an old iron bath and it simply hadn’t occured to me to use it as a pond. I can be a bit dim.
I’d like to start keeping ducks again, but the last time I found the pond a bit of a problem: it got dirty very quickly and changing out the water was a nasty chore. But of course baths have plugs, so all I need is a good drainage trench underneath and I’m away.
Jenny said
Lovely to read how you’re caring for the little creatures.
redforkhippie said
I am madly in love with the toads and frogs that frequent my pond.
If water lettuce is available in your area, it’s a wonderful choice for keeping algae down, as it multiplies rapidly and covers the entire surface of the water in a matter of weeks. Duckweed is also excellent for this purpose. Both plants provide nice places for small creatures to hide and nice landing pads for bees and wasps that come to drink out of the pond.
If you find you need filtration, I’ve had good luck constructing a nice fountain/filtration system out of a plastic watering can; I’d be happy to share details if anyone needs them.
Scarlet said
Yes please, that sounds great… share away!
henswontlay said
Great read sorry I cant add more but I´m about to be cut off the internet. I´m in Portugal and trying to be as green as possible so your blog is full of great ideas.
Thanks
Emily said
OK … here’s how you make a super-cheap filtration system for your pond: Take a plastic watering can and put a hole in the bottom, near the front. Get a garden hose valve repair kit and throw away everything except the double-ended metal fitting and the strap thingy with the screw on it that holds a hose in place. Put the fitting through the hole and caulk around it with silicone aquarium sealant. Let it dry. Cut a piece of filter medium and poke it down the top hole and into the watering can. Throw a handful of lava rocks and a handful of gravel on top. Connect the hose from your existing pond pump to the fitting in the bottom of the watering can, using the connector strap thingy. Use rocks or pavers to tip the watering can up so that the spout is over the pond. You may have to play with the angle a bit to get the spout positioned so that when the pump runs, the water comes into the bottom of the watering can, filters through the filtration medium and rocks, fills the pitcher, and pours out the spout and into the pond.
Scarlet said
That’s a great idea, thanks for taking the time to type it up… I’m hunting down a cheap pond pump as we speak and shall install one as soon as possible!
Emily said
The nicest thing about it (other than the fact that it works well) is that it’s easy to clean — if it gets clogged or starts running a little slow, you just blast the garden hose into the top until the water runs clear.
howlingduckranch said
What a beautiful little idea! I was just looking at our old tub and thinking, ‘How am I going to get that to the dump?’ Now I won’t have to! Thanks.
Jon in France said
I now have the bath out of the bathroom and in one piece. Next step is the hole. I am being disciplined about this: no ducks until the pond is actually functioning. Oh, and I’ve thinned out the chickens a bit.
Teach Nugent said
great idea!1
i put two old baths side by side one straight bath and one corner bath bolted at top together. a tank connector 40mm means they are interconnected and tadpoles can swim from straight to corner bath as they like.
i painted bottom half of each bath dark chocolate and top half grass green, so no worries about white .i bought some new bath grates ( the parts that take the plug) and a plastic pipe from the overflow as per normal can deal with heavy rain etc.
as the typical bath is only 15 inches deep as compared to pools / ponds that are usually at least 30 inches deep, i deem them to be safer for children.
lastly you can half sink the bath and use the excavated soil to bank up around the bath as a ramp for wildlife to access same.
beter than liners and the stork /c rane /heron cannot puncture it
Teach Nugent
Cill Droichid
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Mark Penrith said
Hi there,
Very cool idea. I reckon this is my weekend project.
Many thanks,
Mark