POND GARDEN

So named in view of the large 70' x 30' pond as it's central feature. This was dug out by the previous owners but was not lined and did not hold the water during the summer months whilst the water table is low. It was lined during the summer of 2000 having first been slightly reduced in length, which has resulted in the reduced portion now being an adequate marshy area. Here marsh marigolds, ragged-Robin, cuckoo flower, devil's-bit scabious, purple loosestrife, greater bird's-foot trefoil and other moisture loving plants flourish. You get what you pay for and the budget liner quickly persihed, and following the horrific wet summer of 2007 has been properly relined and the whole pond area is under reconstruction. The steep banks of the main pond do not really allow for marginal plants to flourish - there is simply not enough soil retained above the liner on the banks, and the pond is deliberately kept lower than the bank tops to avoid flooding (as has been known). On the south side a pebble beach (all the smaller sized pebbles coming out of the garden) has been added as a good vantage point.

Along the southern boundary of this garden is a row of various buddleias that continues the theme commenced in the cottage garden - a riot of colour, scent, and butterfly activity in high summer!

Ragged Robin

Bogbean

 The eastern end of the pond garden is another area devoted to trees. Species here that are not found in the woodland garden are various willows, alder, wild privet, and spindle.

The eastern end of the garden narrows towards the boundary, where it forms a triangular apex, and at this point stands a wych elm tree brought with us from our Derbyshire garden that is now doing very well and forms an obvious end to this garden.... or so it seems - beyond this is a 'secret woodland walk' that cannot be seen until the elm tree has been passed: ideal territory for the Speckled Wood, but alas the elm has recently given in to Dutch Elm disease, as has much of the elm in the immediate area.

 AQUATIC WILDLIFE

Frogs, toads, and newts have all found their own way into the pond, which boasts a good array of odonata: common blue, blue-tailed, large red, and banded demoiselle damselflies, and broad-bodied chaser, black darter, four-spotted chaser, common darter, and brown hawker dragonflies. The usual other insect wildlife associated with ponds is there in abundance.

Above: common blue damselfly. Right: blue-tailed damselflies mating.

Brown hawker dragonfly.