What you need
All you need to survey your pond is a sieve and a tray to put your pond animals in.
Sieves are good because you can get in amongst the plants at the edge of the pond - where most animals live - much more easily than with a dipping net.
A white tray
It's really important to use a white tray because it's much easier to see pond animals when they are on a white background.
You can make your own tray in 5 minutes by sticking a sheet of white paper onto the bottom of a baking tray. Don't worry that the paper will get wet. Put a centimetre of water in the tray to keep the animals happy - keep the water shallow so you can see the animals easily.
If you're going to dip your pond regularly it may be worth getting a special white tray.
A sieve
Don't forget to cut the hooks off the sieve - it's difficult to get into all the little nooks and crannies where animals lurk if you don't.
Where to dip
To find all the different kinds of animals in your pond its important that you check all the habitats they may be living in. Here's where to look.
Most animals live at the edge and amongst plants- not in open water.
Here are the places to dip:
Grasses trailing into water
Roots of marginal plants
Stems and branches trailing in the water
Under the leaves of floating plants
Even slimy green blanket weed can be teeming with life 
Amongst leaves and twigs on the bottom of the pond
How to dip
Use your sieve to gently disturb the plants, sweeping up the animals into the sieve as you dislodge them from their hiding places.
Don't dredge up lots of mud at the bottom of the pond. There won't be many animals in it but it will make your tray very muddy.
There's too much plant and algae in the tray on the left to see anything properly. You only need a small amount of plants to make sure you can see the animals clearly.
This is about the right amount.
Don't forget to look in all the different places around the pond where the animals might be lurking - if you just dip in one spot you won't find everything that's living in the pond.
Turn your sieve upside down over the tray to empty out the animals. Spread out any bits of plant and other debris with your hand. Don't fill the tray up with plants and sludge or you won't be able to see anything!
Now wait a moment and look into the tray to see if there is anything moving around. Can you spot any beetles or dragonfly larvae?
- Use the pictures on the survey sheet to help you decide what you have found.
- Fill in your results on our online form and calculate your score to find out what condition your pond is in.
