Hi Jackson, you're very welcome and your support, kind words and encouragement mean a lot and definitely encourage me to keep going :) Nature can be a great medicine for those off-days, and the rewards knowing that you're creating such a vital habitat for creatures desperately in need really does improve a day - wishing you and yours a fantastic Christmas - best wishes to you all, Joel

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you Joel that means a lot merry Christmas to you and yours,look forward to watching your next installment.

@Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton What white liner was that please? It sandwiches the liner? Thanks

Hi Jackson, I planted about 200 pollinator specialty native mid-west varieties and there were hoards of hungry bees, moths, butterflies, and small flower flies the entire bloom time. It lasted well into October as I had a lot of native asters. A water feature is a dreamy thought which I hope to get done this spring. Meanwhile I'm doubling the pollinator gardens as well. Seed starting will begin this week. It's nice to know there are so many people who want to care for the wild critters. People such as yourself.

Ah yes, encourage wildlife to nest in population dense areas versus further out in rural areas where they can thrive. Great work indeed.

You’re very welcome 😊👍 Hope you enjoy it mate! 😁

Looking for the follow up, to see what it looks like with the growth of plants/flowers. Thanks for the video!

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 💯 enjoyed it joel another amazing pond and wildflower meadow you have created for our beautiful wildlife 🐸💚🐸

LOL - all jobs are priced on the end result, which means the weather plays a big part in how long they take of course. It's difficult to know from the timelapse but what we were doing was inverting the top-soil to ensure the wildflower meadow had a lot less nutrients and the more delicate wildflowers a chance to compete against thistles, nettles etc which all love fertility :) Best wishes - Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks for the answer. The curiosity was killing me.

@@MrGiova-ep7kj You're very welcome 🙂👍

Thank you Craig - I've already started planning this year's work schedule and when I'm in the areas of the country again where habitats/ponds have already been created, I am making time to go back and visit and film these for you guys - everyone likes a "before and after" so I hope to bring lots of these to you this year. Best wishes, Joel

Not for long - wildlife ponds if set up properly encourage bats, amphibians, birds and larger insects who all feast on any mosquito and their larvae. Weeds = wildflowers, native to the UK but vital to so much wildlife. What IS also cool is that after a few weeks they establish, without any need for artificial pumps or filters due to native oxygenators, into these - just a few of the many made this way over the last 18 years: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Hope this helps...

None the less a daily fall of pollen, dust, dirt and leaves will quickly accumulate in this sort of pond. In nature you would never find a completely sealed-in pond, water leaves and enters from all manner of places. The trick with ponds is to mimic this eb n flow of water. Each time it rains, water laden with dirt will enter the pond and accumulate. The way to avoid this is to ensure the liner is higher than the surrounding grade. Joel did a good job for a non specialist but there is way more to ponds than simply a hole filled with water.

Hi Maria :) It's on it's way...along with many others. I work all over the country and unfortunately can't stay to film the "after" photos a few weeks later... but at the beginning of this year all clients have been added to the logistics list so that when I'm within an hour or so of them I can return and give full updates. Best wishes, Joel

Thank you Wolfgang, appreciated :)

Your encouragement and support is appreciated Deborah, as always - thank you, best wishes - Joel

my question too :)))

@@ozdigg9254 and mine as well!!!

I’m glad you typed that, it saved me time doing it, thanks.

You answered correctly.

Pretty sure it's just a different perspective recorded of the process

I've been making these ponds in this way for the last 17 years and not one has failed, due to these methods. Filtration is not needed as the native oxygenating plants provide this, along with 60-70% coverage with floating leaved plants, lilies etc. The subsoil used is also very low nutrient so aids in keeping the water clear and negates the need for plastic baskets as planting is possible directly into the soil. I don't recommend fish for these ponds, as with all ponds they create high nutrient with their waste and affect water clarity - this is why you see complicated and artificial pumps and filtration in koi ponds for example. In the UK they rarely overflow, and if they do there is sufficient subsoil and surrounding soil to soak up any overflow. I hope this helps clarify - here's a short video on just a few of the many ponds made this way and how they look once established, due to the thought-out method: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Best wishes - Joel

Thanks for your expertise Sally - I make these ponds for a living and am unable to stay to film them once they're established - if you're thinking of making one (no doubt better than this of course) then you might find this short video of interest. It shows just a few of many ponds created over the years, using this exact method and no need for artificial pumps, liner showing, filtration... plants take time to establish, as do meadows: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html

They may have buried the topsoil in the hole as it is no feed for the wildflower meadow creation

Wow! That takes some imagining, and it'll take some dedication but you seem like the kind of person determined to make that work. Keep me updated on your progress, keep in touch as I'd love to see some photos when you're done - it would also make a great youtube series so don't forget to film the process and success. Best wishes, Joel

Thank you Simon, hoping to return to the clients this year and do an update video on how it's looking, can't wait :) I do appreciate the support and encouragement, best wishes - Joel

Thank you Martin, much appreciated :)

Hi there - sorry for the delay. It does look like a sand mix but it is the subsoil, it settles really well and keeps the pond clear. Forgive me if you've seen already but there is a 3 part series on the channel about how and why I made ponds like this. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Superb Joel, I will go and take a look. Thank you

Hi there David - thank you, I really appreciate your kind words and support :) Unfortunately this timelapse doesn't have a narrative, but the way I make the ponds, we "mine" the subsoil and use this to line the pond as it's very low nutrient and keeps the water clear and also allows planting directly into the soil. The client wanted a meadow area adjacent to the pond so we took off the top soil and replaced with the subsoil at the top, again low nutrient so it means that thistles, docks and the more "thuggish" plants don't get a good foothold (they like high nutrient) and it gives the more "gentle" wildflowers a chance to take hold and thrive. Hope this explains - there is a 3 part series on how I make the ponds on the channel if you were interested - if you go to "videos" on the channel you'll find lots of help there - but I'm here if you have any questions at all - best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

Hi there Bill, if you're in the UK then it could certainly be the hot weather at the moment, but wind can also play a part in evaporation. So I can advise correctly, is it possible to send an email with a couple of photos of the pond so I can see if there's anything else at play - enquiries@hazelwoodlandscapes.com - the subsoil will soak up a fair amount of water until it is settled and compacted, and if you've planted already then the plants will soak up water too while they're establishing their roots. But again, if you send across a few photos I'll be able to advise specifically. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

Hi Frank, thanks for your questions. The ponds do not stagnate due to the natural oxygenating plants, low nutrient subsoil and natural vegetation cover - they need managing of course, ie leaf removal in autumn until the leaves have stopped dropping, and in very hot or particularly windy weather then of course they can suffer evaporation, the same as any water body, so may need a little replenishing. The subsoil does indeed settle after a few days and along with the oxygenating plants the ponds clear in just a few weeks. The white fleece is covered with a layer of low nutrient subsoil to keep the pond clear, the liner protected further and a substance to plant into naturally, negating the need for plastic baskets. Aquascape did contact me a few years ago about being an advocate or contractor, but in the UK. However, unless a client requests a water feature and therefore it requires a pump etc then I will necessarily incorporate this, but for the informal wildlife ponds there is no need if they are set up correctly. The reason expensive filtration set-ups are required for koi fish for example is due to their natural "waste" increasing nutrient levels and encouraging algae etc - I don't recommend anything other than small native fish to any wild-life pond of course, but it doesn't mean I don't like fish in other settings. I've been making ponds this way for circa 17 years now and not one has failed or required any mechanical filtration except, again, if it is needed in some designs. To show you how these ponds establish in just a few weeks, here's a short video showing just a few of the many made using this method, and even one with a water feature I believe :) Hope this helps explain the different methods. Best wishes - Joel kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html

Thank you Seth, appreciated 😃

Hi Sally, it's another one I need to return to - I work all over the country, and I mean ALL over the country, so when a pond is finished I have to set off to make another one and it's rarely within viable driving distance (typically!) but all the ponds I've created are now on my logistics planner so that when I am nearby again I can do update videos - so many videos haven't been uploaded yet as I want to make complete "before and after" videos and show them once established and all the wildlife attracted, it's going to be a slowly but surely process! The clients do send email updates with what they've seen and show me the progress but no-one would want just photos in a video I think. Very best wishes, Joel

Hi there! I have saved many videos and not uploaded yet until I get a chance to go back to client's gardens - unfortunately because I create habitats all over the United Kingdom it is very difficult for me to hang around for a few weeks to see the plants establish etc - once I have completed a pond I find I'm usually travelling many many miles away to start the next one. But that's the reason I have saved many pond creations until I can get back to them and do an update for the end of each video. I did revisit a pond created last year, on Friday just gone and did an update with the client, hopefully I can upload this next week. In the meantime though, here's just a few of the many ponds created previously and what they look like in a few weeks - hope this helps imagine until I can get back to all the ponds created :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Best wishes, Joel

Thank you Kevin, I'm headed back to this site in the next few weeks where I will be filming an update video on the pond and meadow and how it looks now :) Best wishes, Joel

Probably be was getting paid by the hour worked

Thank you - I really appreciate that. I wasn't able to stay at this clients to show the pond a few weeks later when the plants/meadow had established, but I hope to go back in the next few weeks and make the update video to share with everyone :) But thanks for your positivity, it really does make a difference. Best wishes, Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton of course! Too many people put each other down. It’s much cooler when people are supportive!

@@SwissFrogGuy Definitely makes the world a better place :) Enjoy your week

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks!

Thank you so much, we do add stones/boulders but only if the client requests, if not then it does open up more area for important wildflowers along the pond edge :) Really appreciate your encouragement, thank you - best wishes, Joel

Thanks for your input Reg, but there's no luck needed with the ponds I've been creating like this for nearly 20 years now - wildlife ponds attract wildlife, like amphibians, bats, birds, larger insects and they all feast on mosquitoes and their *larvae* - here's a few of the many ponds created this way and how they look once established: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Water pumps and filters are needed for expensive koi set-ups where fish continue to add nutrient - native oxygenators and the method used will keep this pond clear. I'm also going back to this pond to film it in a few weeks and it will look exactly like the ones above.

Hi there Mel, sorry for the delay, just trying to catch up with everyone :) The addition of subsoil will be fine for the plants to grow in, remember that the subsoil that I place over the fleece is between 4-6 inches deep and the plants survive fine on this amount. If you are in the UK and are in need of subsoil then please send an email to us at enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we can certainly help with advice and requirements. I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

Hi there Blaze, the liner is EPDM rubber butyl - if you're in the UK we sell it (and everything else you need) at www.wildyourgarden.com and we're happy to advise on amount needed according to pond size/depth. The white sheets are industrial fleece. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

post script: If you want to see what 200K buys pond-wise check out Canadian Permaculture Legacy. He's got a post showing his amazing water feature. 200K - lot of cash, eh?

Hi Donna, sorry for delay in acknowledging you, just trying to catch up with everyone. The machinery and extra guys certainly do help. Not sure if you have seen the timelapse pond or instructional videos on the channel but they show me building a pond with a shovel and buckets as the property had high steps in and out of the rear garden. Hope this encourages you and best wishes for 2023 - Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton No worries from me Joel. Nice of you to respond. I'll have a look at the video which you suggested (and more too) and see how far I think I can get doing the work by hand. In any case, thanks for sharing your pond work. It certainly is beautiful.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate this - best wishes, Joel

Thank you, the soil doesn't move down these ponds, it is down to the grading etc and the right soil, but the soil stays in place :) Best wishes, Joel

Look up water tanks and fiberglass ponds that you just plonk in the hole.

Thank you - I build to the client's requirements and affordability of course, so am restricted but this pond takes up a fair amount of the garden :)

Hi Maria - no, no filters and no pumps required in these ponds, nature does everything, including keeping the water clear :) The areas around the pond were ready for the wildflower seeds etc. Update coming soon. Best wishes, Joel

I just watched this mini documentairy about the benefit of a wildlife pond and meadow and it's effect it has on all levels of the local wildlife🥰 Would definitely recommend watching this video👍🏻 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/arKmlLtomZ7Uhn0.html

Hi there - it doesn't explain on this video due to the timelapse of course, but it's not general garden soil but sub-soil that is used, this means that it's low nutrient and helps keep the water clear and algae at bay alongside the oxygenating and cover plants - these all negate the need for artificial filtration/pumps - adding fish to a pond of course means a necessity for filtration due to the amount of waste adding nutrient to the water ( ie those expensive set-ups for keeping koi fish for example) - in the UK these wildlife ponds don't suffer high mosquito numbers due to the set-up for wildlife and them encouraging bats, birds, amphibians and larger insects who all feast on mosquitoes and their larvae. If you wanted to see how these ponds establish in a few short weeks then this quick video shows just a few of many made over the last 17 years and how natural they look within a short time :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html There's also a 3 part series on the channel on how and why I make the ponds like this - hope this helps explain - best wishes, Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Very cool, thanks for the answer!

You're very welcome :) It's difficult to work out the method and reasoning when it's timelapse of course but I'm glad this helped - best wishes

This subsoil was absolutely perfect and ensures low nutrients so the pond stays clear and the meadow flowers thrive :) Thank you for the support and encouragement and welcome to the channel - best wishes to you and yours - Joel

Hi Olga, using the subsoil does mean that the establishing plants will use the water through the soil, but only reducing the water level by a few inches, which can be easily topped up - both the sun and wind can play a part in water evaporation so it's always good to have at least 60-70% floating leaf plant cover, this also helps to combat algal growth as it likes it warm and the cover/shade keeps the ponds cool :) I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel, that was really helpful! And good luck with your future projects

Hi Carlin, no, I never use a pump or filter unless the pond is ornamental or whether the client wants to have a water feature. These ponds stay clean due to the method used and the planting - here's just a few of the many created over the last 18 years and how they look a few weeks after the plants have established and the water clears - no filtration needed :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Best wishes, Joel

Hi Raymond - with these wildlife ponds they do not require any artificial filtration or pump systems - the subsoil used and the oxygenating plants, also floating leaved plants keep the water clear and will only need maintenance once a year, less than most ponds, when clearing leaves from the surface and managing the plants. This particular pond was in Lincolnshire in UK. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

Hi there Clavie, this is EPDM rubber liner - hope this helps but if you need any advice I'm here :) Best wishes, Joel

It's certainly possible, if you have the right soil and compaction it can be done without a liner, or you can use bentonite but it works out very expensive. I hope that you make a pond for wildlife though, it's the best habitat you can install. Best wishes, Joel

Thank you, and yes - it's Wild Your Garden as opposed to re-wild your garden, which to be fair if you go back far enough would consist of scrub and bramble etc. The channel is about encouraging "traditional" gardeners to include vital habitat for our much depleted nature which is desperately in need of our help and to show that wild doesn't necessarily mean messy and showcasing the beauty of native wildflowers. As I work all over the UK it's rather difficult to hang about for a few weeks until the ponds and meadows are established. But here's two short videos showing a few of many ponds created this way and how they establish, and the same with the meadows - I've been creating these successfully for nearly 20 years now: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/huCWmtJopr2RgoE.html Hope this helps explain - best wishes, Joel

Hi there, it's a vital oxygenator :)

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Ah right. Thanks.

Hi there, no filter needed or pumps etc :) The native oxygenators, subsoil and floating leaved plants all keep these ponds clear without the need for filtration. If you were to put large fish in then yes, filtration would be needed to combat the nutrient in the fish "waste" which causes algae and murky ponds. Here's just a few of the many ponds I've made this way and how they establish after a few weeks: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html

In the UK we don't have a mosquito problem, the bats, birds, amphibians and larger insects that are attracted to these wildlife ponds, feast on mosquitoes and their larvae - nature works it out :)

It will, the planting is key - meaning no artificial oxygenation or pumps required 👍

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton in theory, the plants must be healthy and enough in number, all around the year.

@@ButthurtImmigrant Exactly. Here's how these ponds look after a few weeks and continuing - just a few of the many I've made this way: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html

Hi Dustin, thanks for the input. To ensure that there is little to no nutrient in the ponds, native oxygenators and floating leaved plants are used to keep the water clear, additional to the SUBSOIL, not "dirt". The reason you see expensive set-ups in fish ponds, particularly those with Koi, is because the fish "waste" adds more and more nutrient, hence the need for artificial means. None of my ponds need artificial filtration - and here's a few of many created this way and how they establish after a few weeks: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html So, that's why they're built with no artificial pumps etc needed.

You're probably in the minority because you don't understand or appreciate how these ponds work. There's lots of info on the channel, but this short video might show you exactly how these ponds look after a few weeks, once the plants have established and the native oxygenating plants get to work: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oK1hqpp-us7MiKc.html Just a few of the many ponds created this way over the last 17 years - not one a failure :) With a wildlife pond you don't have to worry about mosquitoes - bats, amphibians, birds and larger insects are all attracted and feast on mosquitoes and their larvae - nature really does know best. Hope this helps your understanding.

You are indeed in the minority. I have a nature pond adjacent my driveway entrance so my drunk friends will drive into it and ruin their cars..., just kidding! We need an open water source for wildlife here in our high desert. We have beehives,jackrabbits and tons of wildlife abounding on our property and a 15 X 20 ft pond is very attractive to them, as well as birds of prey that eat said animals..., just kidding again. 😂 Seriously, it's very beautiful and green in our high desert area. An oasis in the desert if you will.

​@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshtonI am retired so I dug my 15 X 20 ft pond with a shovel, wheel barrow and pick. That's the luxury of ample idle time for 'ya! Keeps my old self in shape too. Yours looks great!

I have a small pond but if I had the space and the money that this must’ve cost then I would have had a filter system in it to keep the water clean and had fish in it. It would still attract all the wildlife that this pond will.

It would be great to see this pond after a year or two, I bet it's beautiful ❤

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