Why thank you!🥰 thanks for watching and commenting, Best, Ed

Thanks for watching and commenting- using the right tools for the job makes all the difference. With a quality drill/drill bit and an impact driver no strength other then being able to hold the tools required! Best, Ed

Hi there! As you say, this is a great alternative to netting a pond entirely and would always be my first recommendation before having to net if problems persist. Such methods are not entirely fool proof, but in most ponds such an installation can be very effective. I find if needs be a few wires attached criss crossed over the top of the pond in places makes it even more effective at deterring the heron, but at a slight compromise to aesthetics. If there is a large broad shallow section within the pond inside the wire ‘fence’ a heron will still hop/fly over the wires and simply land in the shallows and in this case adding wires over the top is a must. But as you say, cosmetically much more discreet then netting and the uprights around the pond give the additional opportunity to tension a full net over the top away from the ponds surface for the winter months to prevent deciduous leaves getting in the pond! One day when I get the opportunity I mean to do a video on this method of deterrent! Thanks for sharing! Best, Ed

Another alternative, far more discrete, is to mount thin, strong, uprights around the pond around 18ins high with strong (almost invisible) fishing line strung between the uprights. Herons will not step over it in order to step down into deeper water. This has been my experience, but it may be different where there is a nice convenient shallow shelf beyond the barrier - but worth a try?

Hi there, thanks for watching and commenting- to be completely secure absolutely- raising the netting (I usually use re-bar rods positioned around the pond) 18” or more above the surface of the water will maximise safety for fish- so if there are some prized koi it could well be worth doing this! In this pond however we wanted to minimise any impact of the netting (its not the most attractive of things to have on a pond) plus the net is under light tension. This combined with the clearance between the surface of the water and the netting would make it very difficult for a heron to spear anything. Also, in my experience- Herons are intelligent hunters and usually will only target prey thats of a manageable size. Very occasionally I’ve encountered instances where a fish thats on the cusp of being manageable has been targeted but ended up being too large for the heron to handle and so incurred damage as a result, but Herons pose no threat to very large fish at all. I’ve witnessed large koi very happily swimming close to a heron standing in a pond before and the Heron paid no attention at all to the fish. Instead it would have been looking for the easiest and most manageable meal! Best regards, Ed

Good point- I do frequently install a system of short raised rods positioned around a pond and strung with a course or two of strong clear fishing line. This is often effective enough to prevent a heron from gaining access to a pond and as you say can be much more discreet then having to use a net. I suspect I’ll post more content on alternative heron deterrents- inc this system- at some stage this season! Thanks for watching and for your comment! Best, Ed

That’s a fantastic- if slightly scary- idea! Might try that myself one day! Thanks for your comment! Best, Ed

I reckon a Jack russel would be a good deterrent!! Thanks for watching and commenting! Best, Ed

Ha ha! indeed yes- an effective, if slightly terminal (and highly illegal…) deterrent!! Best, Ed

Hi there, thanks for commenting and my apologies for the delayed response. Indeed sometimes netting a pond entirely is the only way to prevent persistent Herons and other predators from taking fish from the pond. Deterrents such as partial netting, stings and wires across the pond etc can be helpful and often prevent 99% of problems, but not always. As long as there is a deeper section of a pond too deep for a heron to wade in and you provide some hiding places, such as sections of pipework into which livestock can hide, I’d still always try a deterrent rather then entirely netting a pond personally! Best, Ed

HI there Peter, thanks for watching and commenting! Ducks (particularly mallards) can be a pest in a pond- (as nice as they are to see!) damaging and eating plants and introducing lots of nutrient rich waste that encourages algae to grow. Def try to discourage them if you value water clarity and plants!! That said I tend to find that a pair or two will get drawn to some of my clients ponds for a few weeks in their breeding season and then disappear off to nest elsewhere, without causing any issues. Best, Ed

Until fish and game busts you.