Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote:
"Sacha" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip 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!
snip
He really must put in some plants, though.
snip

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....

If the fish dies, he may learn something, though at a cost to the fish,
I do agree. In our 'formal' fish pond we just have to let nature take
its course. The frogs emerge in their dozens each year to spawn there.
Going out on a wet night with a torch is a magical experience because
there are toads and frogs coming from all directions, towards that
pond. It's been there for over 50 years so must have been home to
numberless quantities of them. I've suggested that next year we
insert some sort of mesh barrier between the part of the pond they
usually lay the eggs in and try to keep the fish away. I particularly
want to do this because this year being so dry at the vital time, we
have seen many fewer frogs than usual. I'm hoping, too that we'll get
lots going to the wildlife pond. We now have 3 ponds in the garden,
one of which will remain fish-less. I'm beginning to think of another
in an entirely different part of the garden but don't know if the Boss
will agree!
My problem will be that there is no electricity in that area and no
naturally running water so I think it will just end up as a stagnant
puddle, which seems a bit self-defeating.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon