A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

On 15/3/07 12:40, in article , "Pete
Stockdale" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

We can't electrify because the public wouldn't appreciate it. ;-) We might
be able to net, though the fountain/pot in the middle would make that a bit
more difficult. In the end, I think we'll either have to net, or move all
the fish to a different pond which has no wading access at all.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
On 15/3/07 12:40, in article ,
"Pete
Stockdale" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either
it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter
as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent
the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

We can't electrify because the public wouldn't appreciate it. ;-) We
might
be able to net, though the fountain/pot in the middle would make that a
bit
more difficult. In the end, I think we'll either have to net, or move all
the fish to a different pond which has no wading access at all.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

Try a few overhead wires, they are big clumsy birds coming into land and
prefer a large landing area and walk to the water, its surprising with your
trees you are having the problem. I have also heard it said that the stone
cats some people put by their ponds discourages them.
Think your self lucky the Otters have not found you yet!!
(and I have replied to your last short email let me know if its gone missing
again)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)



--
Sally in Shropshire, UK

On 15/3/07 16:37, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful! Thanks, Sally.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:40:19 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 16:37, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article ,
"Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either
it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter
as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to
a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as
they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over
it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't
take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful! Thanks, Sally.


A gnome is not obligatory I believe. However, I have to say that we once
stood and watched a heron at the edge of a lake for ages until it dawned on
us it was an artificial one - so they can be tasteful -)





--
Sally in Shropshire, UK

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:40:46 -0000, "Pete Stockdale"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

You cant gripe about animals doing what animals do. Did you protect
them in any way?

Does anything take spawn?

I think next weeks weather may well put paid to some early breeding
wildlife, sadly.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.

Very good idea. We actually have trouble with cats grabbing the frogs
at the pond, lying in wait etc. Electric would be a very good
deterrent! What do you use?

They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:40:19 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

On 15/3/07 16:37, in article
et, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful!

Certainly not the beer swilling ones we usually see on the riverbanks!

On 15/3/07 17:05, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:40:19 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :
snip
Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't
take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful! Thanks, Sally.


A gnome is not obligatory I believe. However, I have to say that we once
stood and watched a heron at the edge of a lake for ages until it dawned on
us it was an artificial one - so they can be tasteful -)

Oh, I've seen some lovely ones - it was just thought association about pond
ornaments, I suppose! Past Times used to do some rather nice 'lead' ones
but they don't seem to do so any more. I'll have a hunt around.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On 15/3/07 17:18, in article ,
"(o)(o)" wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:40:46 -0000, "Pete Stockdale"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

You cant gripe about animals doing what animals do. Did you protect
them in any way?

Other than netting which looks unattractive (this garden is open to the
public) there is nothing else to do. We may have to move the fish to
another pond.

Does anything take spawn?

Yes, fish and herons! One enormous clump has disappeared overnight and as
the fish are being fed, they've being ignoring the spawn.

I think next weeks weather may well put paid to some early breeding
wildlife, sadly.

I'm afraid that's probably right. I've heard of baby blackbirds in the nest
already and our rooks are building nests like mad though not actually laying
yet, I hope.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.

Very good idea. We actually have trouble with cats grabbing the frogs
at the pond, lying in wait etc. Electric would be a very good
deterrent! What do you use?

If this is meant for me - we don't and can't - public access again!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On 15/3/07 17:19, in article ,
"(o)(o)" wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:40:19 +0000, Sacha
wrote:
snip


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful!

Certainly not the beer swilling ones we usually see on the riverbanks!


Tut! This is the South Hams I'll have you know!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:37:29 +0000, Sally Thompson
wrote:

Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)

I don't know what it is that make an artificial heron life-like to a
real heron. It's not just the appearance. Some very good looking
artificial herons get ignored by real herons and others work quite
well.

Steve