Wildlife Ponds... Now Total Garden Rebuild

[Mumbles274]

Cheers, slowly getting there, had a lazy day yesterday and got my kids today so prob just gonna get a bit done later when they are playing. Been a lot of head scratching about the order of things to get done but starting to get clear in my head now. Have been window shopping for materials that I'll be using and pricing it up, more head scratching.. still, planning things at this stage will hopefully pay off when it's done

 

[Mumbles274]

All the turf has gone now, and all the raised border. Was 3 more dump runs with 10-15 bags each to do it!!! Slowly getting there, getting rid of loads of unwanted stuff on a facebook freebies page too... dead handy...

Had a slight change in plans too, think I'm gonna ditch the grass area I had planned and just have a larger gravel area for easier maintenance, maybe a wider boarder on the left hand side so i can deposit some soil there, no grass means I can get rid of my old lawnmower and strimmer then too.

Tomorrow the builders come in to prep the back wall of the house ready for rendering at the weekend, as well as having my gutters and facias done.

I should get the base to the path done this week, then it's onwards with the pond digging and the first bit of end result will be close. Does anyone know if I can use some old ceramic tiles I have as a hardcore base for the path? I got a bunch of them I'd quite enjoy smashing to bits for the purpose!!!!!!

 

[gavman]

So far so good

I have a hole!!!! Just gotta keep going deeper now

a vote for a diving board off your shed roof

 

[Mumbles274]

Ha ha, I've got the ladder in place ready for it!!!

Made more progress today, and since this pic was taken have mixed a whole load of concrete by hand to make the edge base for the path by the pond... not taking any chances with it giving way and the pond side collapsing..

Where the temp wildlife pond is is about the limit of the whole pond. Being that it is in 2 sections, the main fish part roughly where the hole is and the shallow wilder part will be this end. Hopefully a small stepping stone access to the back by the block wall and waterfalls. Also access round the back to the corner where the filter will be

and the thread title has changed thanks modular intervention to reflect this isn't just about the pond anymore

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

That's a fine hole you have Mumbles

I hope you're not female?

Looking forward to more progress pics

 

[Mumbles274]

As it stands this morning I have the concrete edging to the path that will support people walking along next to the pond. It also give me a level to which to build the pond to. Have started filling the the rest of the path with hardcore. There is about 12 or so more foot of path to dig out and maybe I'll still extend the concrete another 4 foot, not sure it needs it as at the point it ends is where the deeper part of the pond ends so is less likely to be at risk of collapse. Having said that, better safe than sorry.

Building work has started on the rear of the house which is badly in need of repair, over the weekend that will be rendered and made good.

So, next up is to dig the rest of the path, set the extra 4 foot of concrete, see i've talked myelf into it just writing this! Then Fill with hardcore. I can then continue pond digging and getting the levels right.

Thinking of doing a mood sheet at some point to start putting my ideas for the end result and what I want to achieve down. Bring some of that mental imagery into focus a bit

 

[Mumbles274]

Mood sheet

 

[teuchter]

Had a slight change in plans too, think I'm gonna ditch the grass area I had planned and just have a larger gravel area for easier maintenance, maybe a wider boarder on the left hand side so i can deposit some soil there, no grass means I can get rid of my old lawnmower and strimmer then too.

I think that's the right decision. Looked like a bit too much going on in your drawing, too much for the size of the space. Getting rid of the grass area is the right move.

 

[teuchter]

By the way, about your pond, make sure you don't plant anything next to it that's going to drop loads of dead leaves into it.

 

[teuchter]

Decking: check on ebay for people selling off unused stuff that they have left over from big jobs - good way to get it cheap!

 

[Mumbles274]

ta, ta and ta

grass is hassle eh? and like you say makes it too busy. Am def trying for hardy plants that don't take either much maintenance or drop their leaves, and will have a browse on ebay.. good idea

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm sure it'll look lovely

 

[machine cat]

Really enjoying the updates on the pond Mumbles, there's just one thing you've overlooked.....

 

[Mumbles274]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh








That'll be me by the way, already planned my little stone to sit on... just maybe not with the rod

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh








That'll be me by the way, already planned my little stone to sit on... just maybe not with the rod

What are you going to fish for then?

 

[invisibleplanet]

Mood sheet

I love that! That's Brilliant! Best Mood Eva!

I also like the Pink Water Lilles, Chamaerops humilis (Mediterranean Fan Palm), Fatsia Japonica and Festuca Glauca (Blue Fescue) you've included

 

[Mumbles274]

Lots inspired by Minnies thread and lots of your imput it has to be said, captured the mood i was looking for

 

[Mumbles274]

What are you going to fish for then?

Compliments

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I love that! That's Brilliant! Best Mood Eva!

I also like the Pink Water Lilles, Chamaerops humilis (Mediterranean Fan Palm), Fatsia Japonica and Festuca Glauca (Blue Fescue) you've included

What a surprise

I was wondering if he plants the Fatsia Japonica in the soil if it will get really big and take over half his garden?

I was going to get some blue fescue in Homebase last week but it just didn't look as blue as it did in pictures so I went off the idea.

I'm tempted by the following two though

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Compliments

I already told you what a lovely hole you have

 

[invisibleplanet]

Compliments

LOL

 

[teuchter]

Lots inspired by Minnies thread

Is there a Minnie gardening thread somewhere?

 

[invisibleplanet]

I already told you what a lovely hole you have

It's an ampitheatre for his gnomes!

Is there a Minnie gardening thread somewhere?

Oh yes

 

[Mumbles274]

I already told you what a lovely hole you have

LOL

 

[Mumbles274]

Is there a Minnie gardening thread somewhere?

Yup, about 3 or 4 down from this one

 

[invisibleplanet]

Mood sheet

It's such a lovely mood sheet, so I had to post it again

Lots inspired by Minnies thread and lots of your input it has to be said, captured the mood i was looking for

Where's the barbeque going to go? And the chairs for sitting and admiring the tranquil scene?

 

[Mumbles274]

Oh, they are there, BBQ will just be one of those moveable slowly going rusty ones and I already have a pub style bench, needs a bit of repair and paint but seats 8

Also planning a seat storage/box/cupboard.. will make this myself... use some deck boards and some wood I have from other projects that I'm going to dismantle for it as I'm not doing them any more

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is there a Minnie gardening thread somewhere?

Why? Do you want to go on there and take the piss out of me or something?

 

[Mumbles274]

It's such a lovely mood sheet

Thank you

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thank you

It is indeed and it's not something I'd ever have dreamt about doing. I'm not creative like that. Wouldn't be able to draw a map of my garden either, despite it being a rectangle