"Sacha" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
The wildlife pond (ex
duck pond) is being left that way so that the frogs find it and have a
chance to breed without fish eating the eggs and the tads.......
there's always something.....
--
Sacha

You are of course quite right. I was not trying to annoy Boypete and I am
certain he and you know what you are doing.
I have a bee in my bonnet at the moment.
Last week a neighbour built a small pond for wildlife. He now has
tadpoles,
large exotic fish, a fountain /uv light, all contained within a black
plastic liner, half of which is above water level.
The pond is in full sun and as yet contains *no* plants. If the tadpoles
make it to froghood they will never be able to get out of the plastic
prison.
I really hope one of my cats or a Heron eats the lot and puts them out of
their misery.

Have you tried explaining to him that the frogs need to be able to get
out! What a clot - presumably he thinks someone helicopters in and
airlifts them out - dragonflies, perhaps! Our fishpond has a little
island in one corner and the frogs happily hop in and out using that
and the wildlife pond has large, mostly flat stones all around the edge
with some of them dipping into the water. In frog season, I've seen
people weight one end of a plank and slide it into the water, resting
the other end against the edge of the pond, thus making a frog ladder.
He really must put in some plants, though. I'm always slightly amazed
at people who want to make their pond water absolutely clear because
nothing is more unsettling to the fish, apparently. And who wants to
stare at a plastic or cement pond shell, anyway?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon

He is not the sort of bloke who takes advice. i.e. I suggested he gave the
fish a bit of shade and he stated "that will make the water go green". One
of the big fish looks distinctly ill and I bet it will be belly up by
tomorrow.
AFAIK you can't really have a wildlife pond and a fish pond on a small
scale.
His wife is back tomorrow and he will be away golfing so I will work on her.
They are both very nice people but....