Many people think that good ponds need to have lots of open water, a narrow fringe of attractive wetland plants around the edge, a deep bit in the middle, no trees around it and lots of sunshine, but this is just one type of pond.
Lots of pond wildlife actually needs ponds that are full of plants with very little open water. It's all to do with scale - what looks like a crowded mass of plants to us is actually a wide open space to a water beetle.
Most natural ponds will need no management at all. After hundreds to thousands of years, ponds ultimately turn into, not dry land as you might expect, but temporary ponds, which are an important habitat type.
Read more about different types of ponds here.
What is in your pond?
It's important to know what you have already before you start any work.
If you have a garden pond, why not do the Big Pond Dip? You might be suprised to find out how many different things are living in there.
If you are working on a larger pond, it might be best to carry out a professional survey. If you would like advice on surveying ponds, including methods and how the information can be used, please see our survey pages.
Non-native plants
If you find non-native invasive plants in countryside ponds then this is a cause for concern. Read more about the non-native plants to look out for and how to avoid spreading them.
Can you make a new pond?
If you want to help a plant or animal that prefers a more open pond, consider creating a new pond instead of changing the existing pond and risk losing a lot of wildlife.
Another great thing about making a new pond is that you can make sure it has clean water, away from sources of pollution. Clean water (rainwater is often best) is one of the key factors for a really diverse wildlife pond.
For advice on making a new pond click here.
