I don't have the space for a pond, what can I do instead?

A pond of any size will benefit some form of wildlife. The water you provide may be a vital stepping stone linking up other larger ponds in your neighbourhood, or just provide some much needed drinking water for a thirsty bee or hedgehog.

Create a bog garden by burying some cheap pond liner about 30 cm down. By piercing the liner a couple of times you will allow some drainage but will still keep the soil above wet. Bog gardens provide a great habitat for toads, hoverflies and many other invertebrates.

Small ponds can still benefit amphibians by providing a place where they can cool off in the summer. Practically anything could be used to make a small tub pond: an old sink, a bucket buried into the ground or even an old paddling pool. Add some native pond plants to make sure the water is full of oxygen and remember to make sure the wildlife can get in and out easily by creating ramps of stones, pebbles and logs.

Posted in: Ponds on 11 June 2015


Back to the in your garden homepage

Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
1781274118.33220 [905] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
1781274118.35960.0274Matched route: discover/in-your-garden/article/[i:id]
1781274118.35970.0002Server address: 216.73.216.192
1781274118.35980Using master page: /templates/pages/in-your-garden/post.php
1781274118.35980Page arguments:
Array
(
    [0] => /discover/in-your-garden/article/120
    [id] => 120
    [1] => 120
)
1781274118.36010.0003 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.3610.001 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
1781274118.36280.0018 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=21799063
1781274118.36350.0007 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=21799063
1781274118.36410.0006 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-06-12 14:21:00' AND saleTo>'2026-06-12 14:21:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
1781274118.3650.0009 [1] SELECT collectionID, collectionTemplate FROM swt_collections WHERE collectionKey='Wildcall'
1781274118.36560.0006 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=120)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1781274118.3690.0034Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1781274118.36920.0002 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1781274118.36940.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1781274118.36950Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1781274118.36950Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1781274118.36960.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1781274118.36970Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1781274118.36970.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1781274118.36980Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1781274118.36980Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1781274118.36990.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1781274118.36990.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1781274118.370.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1781274118.37010.0002Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1781274118.37020.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.37030.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.37030.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1781274118.37040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.37040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1781274118.37040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.37050Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.37050 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.37240.0019 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1781274118.37580.0033 [162] SELECT catID, catPath FROM swt_categories
1781274118.3770.0013 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
1781274118.37860.0016Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1781274118.37880.0002 [nil] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/in-your-garden/article' OR regionPage='*')
1781274118.37980.001No matching content regions found. Check region name (Banner image) and page path options.
1781274118.37990 [nil] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE idx.regionID IS NULL AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1781274118.38090.001 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1781274118.38390.003 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.38470.0008 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1781274118.3870.0023Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
1781274118.38710.0001 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.3880.0009 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.38870.0007 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.39140.0027 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.39240.001 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.39310.0007 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1781274118.39590.0027 [0] SELECT setID FROM swt_category_sets WHERE setSlug='' LIMIT 1
1781274118.39670.0008 [1] SELECT main.* FROM swt_categories main WHERE 1=1 AND (catPath='wildcall/ponds/') ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1781274118.39750.0008 [1] Using template: /templates/categories/wildcall_banner.html
1781274118.39930.0019 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=120)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1781274118.40240.0031Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1781274118.40260.0001 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1781274118.40270.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1781274118.40280Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1781274118.40280Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1781274118.40280Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1781274118.40290Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1781274118.40290Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1781274118.4030.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1781274118.40310.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1781274118.40310Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1781274118.40330.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1781274118.40340.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1781274118.40350.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1781274118.40350Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.40360Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.40360.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1781274118.40370Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.40370Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1781274118.40380Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.40380Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1781274118.40380 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1781274118.40560.0018 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1781274118.40830.0027 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
1781274118.4090.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
1781274118.40980.0008 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1781274118.41230.0024 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.41290.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1781274118.4150.0021 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1781274118.41590.0009 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1781274118.41640.0006 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1781274118.4170.0005 [37] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1781274118.41960.0026 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.42020.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1781274118.42230.0022 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1781274118.42590.0036 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
1781274118.42670.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
1781274118.42740.0007 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1781274118.430.0026 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.43050.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1781274118.43250.002 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1781274118.43520.0026 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1781274118.43590.0007 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1781274118.43630.0004 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1781274118.43850.0021 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1781274118.4390.0005 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1781274118.44090.0019 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1781274118.44250.0016Request time: 0.1125
1781274118.44260Process time: 0.1124
1781274118.44260Memory: 1.7723