Firstly for the benefit of those that didn't get the pics because this
group doesn't carry binaries I can supply the text of the discussion but
not the pics......anyone who wants the pics can email me.....sorry, but
I am too lazy to put them up on a site....although I might post them to
TFA which would make them readily available.....I sent this mail to some
rp regulars.....some responded via pm but as Tristan has responded here
I will give the text....hopefully it makes sense without the pics....

"Firstly apologies if the attachments are too large……to give some sense
of scale the planter on the deck seen in the “possible pond area” pic is
4 foot long and around 18” high.

The original plan when we did this part of the garden was to have a pond
where the waterfall thingy was right up to the edge of the deck….there
then was going to be a stream running to a second pond where the irises
are…..but we hit a problem with the stream….and as we needed to get the
garden done for a party we compromised with the bog garden and the water
feature.

My plan, would be to remove the waterfall – the wood posts holding the
planks that hold the earth pile for the waterfall are concreted in so
removal wouldn’t be an option, and additionally the one to the rear
protects the fence so would need to stay anyhow, with a bit of
reinforcement, maybe if I take the pond up to that height above ground –
this is unlikely because of the deck, unless of course I created a
raised level a bit like the water fall but constructed from timber/brick
to give a waterfall again and maybe create a small veggie filter up
there. My idea would be to take the water level up to the height of the
deck. The depth of the pond becomes an issue the further away from the
fence – this is because there is a soakaway pipe that is taking water
away from the house foundations about 1 foot under the topsoil……I’m
thinking creating a gentle shelving beach into the main puddle would
look quite nice…..The area where the existing waterfall and the
reservoir (the bit covered in pebbles) are has the potential for digging
down quite a way – I went down around 2 foot for the reservoir but it
would be quite easy to go deeper – the house was a self-build by the
previous owners so therefore doesn’t have the usual rubble in the garden
– just a lot of clay soil.

Now, the bamboo clumps are another cause for concern. I do not want to
remove them…..but they are of the clump forming variety rather than
sending out side-shoots type. I’m guessing that I will need to protect
the liner from any possible root spread but it has to be said that these
have been in situ for 5 years and the spread has been more upwards than
outwards.

The rocks that form the waterfall and the borders of the water feature
would be incorporated into the new pond – also the large ones are way
too heavy to even contemplate moving them too far away from this
location – I would probably use them as an edging and maybe add to them.

The second option would be to put the pond on the bog garden
site…..certainly there are no issues digging to the required depth but
I’m not sure that it wouldn’t just be tucked away in a corner if put
there….another concern would be with the railway sleepers possibly
leaching into the water. But I included the pic anyway to see what you
thought. Of course I suppose, even with the depth restrictions it might
be possible to actually build two ponds with just a shallow stream going
between the two….

Power is not an issue. Both locations are close to an outdoor power
supply (with all the necessary safety gadgets incorporated) – we already
have the channelling for power cables running under the decking….just
not used at the moment….

Let me know what you think – or if I am crazy to even contemplate this"



Tristan wrote:
This maya be kind of a dumb question, considering the rap UK gets for
no sun, but does that area of your yard get much sun. As cold as its
may get, it still makes a heap of difference even on a cold day when
that old sun pops out.

The whole back garden faces West.....so it gets full sun from around
11am until the sun falls behind the trees that overshadow the
garden.....in reality, even if it is chilly out the front of the house
or wandering around town, I can still go out in a T-Shirt and do the
garden (well not right now but anytime from March/April til Sept/Oct)....

Do you have an ordinance / law/ regulation in regards to maximum depth
a pond can be? Some areas do have a max depth allowed in
residential areas. I am a firm believer of deeper is better up to a
certain point that is, but perhaps that area you have the french drain
is what they call it in USA, (gravel drain) you could build it up
higher, or make that area itself just a bit more shallower and perhaps
reserve it for a planted / marginal/ bog area, or pass over it with a
stream of sorts or perhaps postion the water fall there......

There are no regulations with respect to the building of ponds or any
depth limitations in the UK....anything, I guess, would be self imposed
in terms of safety......as the garden, like the majority of gardens in
the UK, is very enclosed any safety issues would be with family members
or guests....

Your pics are nice and you do have lots of potential for a nice pond.
I tend to like a pond nestled in a corner, with lots of plants like
bamboo etc on the blind sides, but it does create problems when
maintenance etc is needed working up against a fence or house
wall......

As I already need to work around the bamboo while maintaining the garden
it isn't too much of an issue.....well, no more of an issue than it
already is.....the whole water feature structure is set 18" away from
the fence....so if the pond is an adaptation of this then the same
issues apply as I have when it comes to weeding and clearing the stuff
on the hump that forms the hill for the waterfall....in the area that I
am considering the house itself is a good 6 foot away....so I'm not
hitting the house structure....just the deck structure.....


That decking is unique, that I see in the pics. The fellow I
mentined that just moved to the USA from GB, had decking like that and
he had it sanded and varnished and sanded and varnished to such a
high gloss it was nicer than most folks high dollar hard wood floors
or boat decks.......

We keep the decking unpolished....less slippery in our wet weather...we
power clean it when we need to...plus we both like the more natural look
and feel to things......although I can see and appreciate that a highly
polished decking area would be awesome in the right garden.....



HIs pond was constructed differently. He dug a
hole and laid his pipes etc, for DB's etc/ then he laid in sheets of
foam, and then had it fiberglassed over, so his pond was actually a
formed inplace fiber glass pond. No worries for the most party with
leaks in liners etc.....and bamboo roots certainly would not be a
potential problem either....

I'm not over keen on the whole idea of using fibre glass
preforms....maybe because I would prefer to create a more natural look
which IMO is not possible within that type of confine.....of course
there might be the option of digging the hole and then getting it
"fibre-glassed" to fit the shape but I would reckon that that would be
soooo expensive compared to using a decent pond liner.....not that I am
one to skimp on money to get things right....but more being realistic
about getting what I want and money not spent in one place can be spent
elsewhere.....filtration, plants and livestock....but I know you are not
suggesting this....

Glad that you don't think my bamboo clump roots will be too much of an
issue.....my old pond had an issue with nettle roots but these are far
more invasive....

Thank for the tips and comments
gill