MAKING a WILDLIFE POND in a Stream

In this video I create a new wildlife pond in a stream.
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Many thanks,
Joel Ashton
#HowToMakeAPond #WildlifePond #Pond #GardenPond #BackYardPond #HowToMakeAWildlifePond #JoelAshton #WildlifeGarden #Surrey #NaturalPond #MakeAPond #SmallPondIdeas #SmallPond #SmallWildlifePond

[@jamescunningham1973]

those mini diggers are worth their weight in gold Joel,great job matey

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

They really are James, and I have to say Craig is too :) Thanks so much for the encouragement and support - best wishes, Joel

[@Tofog22000]

Dramatic before and after 👍

[@simoncordingley3122]

Love it, Joel. I look forward to seeing it in 12 months time.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Simon, lots more projects on this wonderful site, the clients really do strive to make this better and better so lots more videos and of course I'll be there for updates on this too. Thanks so much for the support - best wishes, Joel

[@EnglishMadeleine]

What a difference! The client must be very happy 🥰

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

They are Madeleine, they absolutely are and they're a pleasure to work with, always striving to improve this site and manage it so that there's maximum benefit to the wildlife :) Hope you're doing well - best wishes, Joel

[@gillianmillard2446]

Great work 👌

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, appreciated :)

[@fasdaVT]

hope that one day a beaver sets up shop here.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Me too! The client will be overjoyed too, some trail cams needed I think! Best wishes, Joel

[@chrisb4504]

Spring fed from a spring?😂 love the videos Joel

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Haha! Yes, trying to do the videos and stay on track with the day job proves difficult, particularly when I don't see the errors or mistakes til I'm back home a week or so later and editing the videos! Wish I had time to do a script for videos but it's impossible right now. Best wishes and thanks for the support - Joel

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Amazing change. Fascinating to watch it develop. Well done both of you. 👏👏

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Tracey, still trawling through the comments on a late tea-break, but thank you - lots more to come from this site as there are more projects to undertake, and I'll of course be filming them and updating you all on these projects too. Best wishes, Joel

[@UkAmphibians]

Brilliant video joel love it when the bridge was exposed what a great feature for the garden 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Still going through comments! Sorry - but thank you, and yes re the bridge, such a relief to see it all "working" again. Hope you're doing ok - Joel

[@charlotteseden9303]

What a difference! I love the running stream. The critters thank you🙂

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Charlotte, thanks so much. It's a wonderful site this one, back to do a few more projects yet as the clients strive to keep improving this already beautiful area. Lots of videos to come - have a brilliant weekend! Joel

[@charlotteseden9303]

Thanks Joel. Looking forward to see everything. ☺@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

[@danprescott2256]

That difference in depth will do wonders for minnows and crayfish. Good to see

[@ChopsyMiche]

That was so lovely, thank you. What a beautiful place. You are The Wildlife Magician. Looking forward to seeing the updates of this. What you have already done looks amazing. This is going to make a wonderful home to so much treasured wildlife. And the sound of running water, I have always absolutely adored it. Something so soothing about it. Until next time🌻

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Miche! Thank you, so much - sorry for the delay in responding but it's getting more and more difficult trying to keep up with all the comments across the channel, I'm so grateful to everyone but with nearly 300 videos now it's becoming quite a feat. But it's always good to read your kind and wise words, thank you. Best wishes, Joel

[@Danny-outside]

I definitely put trout it that stream.

[@jamesdigby6072]

It’s been great to see two parts to this project. What a lovely setting to work in. Love these types of video.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there James, sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, so many comments across all the videos on the channel! But thank you, so much. Lots more work to do at this site so I'll be bringing regular updates. Hope you and yours are well. Best wishes, Joel

[@Eriktheviking66]

Lovely

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you :)

[@kevinking7860]

Thanks

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Kevin, your continual support and encouragement really does make a difference and I'm so very grateful. Best wishes, Joel

[@terrytopliss9506]

What a transformation,well done.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Terry, so much. Such a relief to see it back as it should be :) Best wishes, Joel

[@stevenbenavente1229]

Good job

[@alinn9172]

Superb work sir❤

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Allin, very much - appreciate your kind words and support. Best wishes - Joel

[@eywasdaughter]

Love it! Wonderful ambience to that special little place. 🐸

[@averyhostiletrout9077]

Loved the beautiful work here but also the music was so good during the montages had me bumping my head lol

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Haha! So glad that you enjoyed this - tomorrow's video is also from this site but a different theme. The 10 acres here have and continue to be transformed and I feel very privileged to be instigating these changes for a very thoughtful client. Hope you're having a good weekend - hopefully see you here on the channel tomorrow night - best wishes, Joel

[@karlitobergkamp8082]

Looks brilliant Joel you’ve made a real difference to that area for wildlife now 💪🏻 and if I ever have enough land for the wildlife pond I’d love them you’ll be the team I call 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Don't hesitate! I really appreciate the consistent encouragement and support - if you need me I'll be right here :) Very best wishes, Joel

[@janiedunn637]

❤ how it’s turned out, lovely ☺️

[@michaeldrevsen9736]

Much love from Denmark

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Right back to you Michael! Best wishes, Joel

[@kellycarroll6829]

good to see the stream continues to flow ~ lovely property! lovely project.💦

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

lovely clients too Kelly, they really do strive to continually improve this site and there are a lot of projects to film for you guys, I also have to upload the one about a full meadow creation that we installed last year - more videos to come with lots of projects. Thanks for the support, best wishes - Joel

[@MrEazyE357]

Great job. The results will be beautiful!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you! Really appreciate the support :) Have a great weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

Hey Joel! You do get to work on some amazing projects! What a beautiful sanctuary for all the creatures who find it. Another item for my wish list, a stream! And a much bigger garden of course! Best wishes.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello you :) I certainly do, and I'm very grateful for it (he says, adding extra layers of clothing today!) It really is an amazing place or wildlife and there's lots more to do here as the clients want maximum benefit for all creatures great and small etc. I'll be keeping everyone updated on this pond/stream and so many other areas too :) I'd love a place like this, I really would. Best wishes, Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

One day Joel, I'm sure you'll make it happen!@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

[@Falconurbex]

Awesome work sir well done,its nice to see so.eone 1 doing something for our wildlife so hats of to yahs.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Mac - thanks so much for the encouragement and support, it really does make a difference and I'm very grateful for you taking the time to leave such a nice comment. Best wishes - Joel

[@adevonnaturegarden]

a great morning catching up on a lot of your videos. I haven't been on this channel for nearly a couple years. I am hoping to get some more content soon and moving forward into 2024... Oh, and congratulations on the marriage too 😄😄

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! Thank you, so much. Just catching up with everyone while I get half hour! So glad to have you back and do keep uploading the comment, sometimes in the beginning it seems like a fruitless task, but you will get there - very best wishes, Joel

[@adevonnaturegarden]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Cheers Joel, much appreciated.... Glenn

[@joydeeproy1580]

Great work

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you so much 😀

[@davidmende3409]

ah yes, spring fed, from a spring - why favorite kind of spring 😂 no hate tho, love the content

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I know right! 😂 I wish I had time for scripts etc but trying to do these at the same time as doing the day job means I'm against time, and have no time to sit back and listen til I'm home and editing, and this one's about 2 hours from where I live so no chance of going back. One day I'll be doing just videos for a living... one day 😂. Glad you enjoyed it anyway - best wishes, Joel

[@davidmende3409]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton ye ye, doesnt make the content any worse - thats just being a human 😅 the big guys do it too and they get made fun of all the same, thats just being a content creator in a nutshell lol - keep it up

[@itsmewende]

That looks so nice, I really like the plants growing at the waterfalls too. I started cleaning out my pond, no snapping turtle, but a couple small bullfrogs.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Wende, late in catching up with everyone again, but thank you - yes the ferns really do suit this setting and thrive there very well. Fantastic re the bullfrogs :) Hope you're doing ok - best wishes, Joel

[@itsmewende]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton You're a busy guy. When my favorites start picking up subscribers, I figure it's getting too much for answering comments, it happens. Always nice tho to see what you're up to. Have a wonderful week ahead.

[@nitro650]

Looks amazing, well done. I noticed that you might have a small leak or a slightly defective valve in the boom hydraulic system of the Bobcat.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Well spotted that man! It's due in for service and this is one of the things that needs looking at. Must say though that this machine has been an absolute god-send on so many jobs. More updates to come from this site, I really appreciate your support and encouragement - best wishes, Joel

[@DevinWiles]

would love to see an update in a year or so to see how things have worked out

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Devin, thank you - I'll be doing more works to this site so there will be updates on other areas and of course this pond in the stream. Stay tuned :) Best wishes, Joel

[@matthewgardiner6793]

Hey Joel,greetings from NZ…great location/setting,great job done Joel,wildlife going to love you👍(great beard too😀)love to see the pond planted up and settled once all completed,thanks for posting

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Matthew, thanks so much for this encouragement and support, it makes a huge difference, particularly on a Monday morning here! :) There is a lot of work that the client wants to have done, continually improving this site so there will be lots of updates to come. Best wishes, Joel

[@LouiseStorey-fb6ev]

I can't believe I've found this 😁 I've just done exactly the same, well not me, a man & a digger😅 I'm a bit concerned that the inflow is too fast, the pond area isn't as big as this one.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Louise! So sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, so many comments across the channel that it's difficult to keep up. But if you need any help and are in the UK you can drop me a line via www.wildyourgarden.com and I'll be happy to help if you send a few photos/more detail etc. Best wishes, Joel

[@dominiccarver7813]

Would another albeit more costly and time-consuming option have been to dig the pond area out deeper and leave the stream as is without the need to dam it up slightly with rocks? That way the pond would keep being topped up during higher flows and you'd retain the faster flow in the stream and still have a pond that was connected to it.

[@mrjunglemonkey1]

the bobcat is running low on hydraulic oil, can tell on the timelapse when the boom is slowly lowering on its own

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Well spotted! It's in for a service now - must say that this Bobcat (and I have no affiliation!) has been so good to work with, it gets used a lot as you can imagine but never once has failed me. Thanks for this though :) Best wishes, Joel

[@Aoodyint]

Want to see your update soon. Please take underwater video for fish and plants.

[@sandraconner6968]

I live at the edge of a small hamlet in the states. At one end of our yatd is a water drain for excess water. (we're down hill) Is a pond even possible or a good idea? The drain eventually empties into a creek.

[@truthserum5202]

Would be nice to see you pond a meter or so deep.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there, over the last 18 years I've made some pretty deep ponds, but for this one it was about bringing it back to it's natural state and it'll be perfect for dragon and damselflies and of course frogs spawning in spring. Lots more projects on this site so I'll keep everyone updated :) Best wishes, Joel

[@timleslie1551]

I have a similar stream in my garden. I want to do something like this but I worry the pond will silt up quite quickly and how do you stop the next storm from taking out the dam?

[@ianmurphy7544]

Hi Joel, love the videos! I had a question regarding working on streams in the UK. In Ontario where I live, we have conservation authorities that regulate any work on flowing water. Do you have something similar where you practice? Just wondering what the potential down stream impacts of this type of work are. Thanks! Ian

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Ian! So sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, just trying to catch up with all the comments across all the videos on the channel. We do have regulations regarding pond installation, particularly larger ones on private sites and there are rules re streams/rivers etc on public land, but on private land it's slightly different and of course this was restoring the stream rather than diverting or changing it. Hope this helps, if you ever need advice then always feel free to drop me a line via www.wildyourgarden.com and I'll be happy to help - oh and I am hoping to be in Canada next year on a project too! Best wishes, Joel

[@filmakercrossley]

Just up my street, l’ve really enjoyed your video. Does the stream run into a larger stream /river lower down the valley because of its fish and crayfish population?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi David, I'm not sure yet which river this stream feeds into as this is only a small tributary but there are also brown trout within the system so I would assume so - lots of updates to come from this wonderful site as the clients continue to want to improve this vast area for wildlife. Best wishes as always, Joel

[@jmann171]

Im a heavy equipment operator so not spewing crap but it's always best practice 2 keep equipment out of riparian areas & certainly not IN the creek if possible. Nice looking work though. Should look great next year. Enjoy folks. 👌👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, appreciated :) The Bobcat is perfect for this situation, my heavier machinery wouldn't be entertained here for obvious reasons, but you can't beat the Bobcat for it's light foot (track!) print but at the same time I couldn't create huge ponds without the bigger equipment I have. Best wishes, Joel

[@frankmartin3183]

Does all the removed vegetation get composted in the end or where does it go after having been removed?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Frank - this was piled next to the area to allow any creatures to escape and then composted slowly and naturally by the client on site - they have sufficient space 😃 Best wishes, Joel

[@Miamcoline]

Love rewilding. I'm just wondering why clearing is better for the wildlife than leaving it overgrown. Obviously its much more aesthetically pleasing now, the pond is deeper for frog eggs, and im sure some of those plants where invasive or stifling, but surely wildlife prefers overgrown cover for pond temperature, hiding, hunting, laying eggs on all the suspended vegetation. Also some pest species of plants like nettles are probably there bc no other species can deal with the levels of nitrogen in human contaminated soils right? I'm genuinely asking and curious why this aesthetic fix is also a rewilding fix so I can take a similar approach.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Chris, you're right in that this area had become choked and not as originally intended, so it wasn't so much about aesthetics but allowing the flow of water again. Dragonflies, damselflies etc like clear still water, hence the shallow pond area, and are often found pretty much immediately around newly created ponds, so the water has to be mainly clear of vegetation, excepting the surrounds of course as they need upright firm stems to crawl up as nymphs and "hatch" as the adults. Overgrown ponds can be detrimental to a lot of life as the plants consume a fair amount of oxygen from the water and of course nutrient with the rotting vegetation. There are more than enough plants surrounding this stream but they're good questions to ask :) Best wishes, Joel

[@Miamcoline]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you very much. Really appreciate your answer and good to know. Best practice is really important considering how much we used to get wrong with rewilding from the victorians, to Roosvelt, to even modern tree planting initiatives from the last 10 years. I see you have a "What not to do" video as well which I'll watch now!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@Miamcoline You're very welcome Chris, if you're in the UK and you ever need then I do offer onsite consultations if you wanted advice first hand, but again drop me a line at www.wildyourgarden.com if you need anything. Thanks for the support, Joel

[@Miamcoline]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks so much, will do!

[@JAMoore-zz3ki]

Question - with a natural stream feeding into the small pond you created, is it better to leave the floor of the pond natural (i.e. dirt/soil/sand), or would it be better and possibly more aesthetically pleasing to add river stones in there? Would doing so negatively affect plants/wildlife living in the pond?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - we wanted to leave this as natural as possible as it worked before it became too clogged up, this shallow water area will provide for a lot of specialist creatures that utilise these areas, dragonflies, damselflies etc and of course frog and newt spawn in the spring, so we wanted to leave as much open water as possible. Very best wishes, Joel

[@Tuppyandizzy]

That bobcat packs a punch for sure for its size .

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It absolutely does, one of my best purchases, it's saved me a lot of work and time for sure :) Would much rather see a snow leopard with you in Kashmir though! Best wishes, Joel

[@Tuppyandizzy]

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton you are getting my hopes high of seeing you and the grey ghost in person some day 🤩🤩

[@Salty351]

Hi Joel, is there a method of creating a pond in stream without relying on features that impound the stream upstream? I'm worried I'll negatively impact the flow of the stream and its biodiversity, also I'm worried about fish passage. Any ideas would be helpful! Thanks

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - so sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, if you're in the UK and need advice/help then I'm happy to give it, just drop me a line via www.wildyourgarden.com - it's difficult to give advice here when I don't know the situation, background etc. Best wishes, Joel

[@williammallender8391]

Is it a good idea to leave any rhododendrons?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi William, in the UK there's only one rhododendron considered invasive, and that's rhododendron ponticum - and I understand it's illegal to plant it in the wild and to allow it to spread from private property. The client is already looking to reduce the numbers of rhododendron species that were already on this site before they became care-takers here, they want to have as many native species as possible. One thing I do know with rhododendron is that they're absolutely covered in bees and pollinators in spring, so they do provide sustenance but again aren't native and I'd never plant one - still beautiful to see in some areas though, it's their beauty that no doubt brought them here in the 1700s but Ponticum in particular shades out our natives and is pretty prolific. Best wishes, Joel

[@jhatfield2755]

U get mosquitoes where you are?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

We do, they're more often referred to as "gnats" here in the UK, but with the right habitat for wildlife, bats, birds, amphibians and larger insects will all make a home and feast on any mosquitoes and their larvae :) Nature knows... Best wishes, Joel

[@djgilx99]

I’m a fan of your work, so please don’t take this the wrong way, but … I’m really struggling to see how this was an improvement for wildlife. Didn’t you just dig out a little swampy area full of plants and wildlife, in the name of aesthetics? What am I missing?

[@SIC647]

There are many streams all around still, but ponds have often been drained. And ponds support other types of ecosystems than streams.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - not at all :) Just to explain further, this site has many habitats for wildlife, including ponds. This stream was extremely choked, as you can see and was cleared to enable more open water habitat for many of the stream-associated invertebrates, damselflies, dragonflies and many other creatures that will benefit from a slow moving body of water. All vegetation was checked and left to one side in case it contained wildlife of course but again this site is habitat rich in general so nothing was made homeless so to speak. Hope this helps explain, best wishes as always - Joel

[@user-vy7dl5ll4q]

Thought something similar till I undertook the same project here in NZ. Previously had what I thought was a storm swale bisecting the property dug by a previous farmer and loaded with invasive weeds and grass. Basically a smelly silt trap - went through cleared it out; now have frogs, dragonflies, 4x types of rare native fish, eels, native crayfish have turned up last year. Kingfishers and ducks have turned up. Also get visits from Blue herons and by clearing the banks routinely I've made it so 11x types of native ferns can re-establish. I think the lull here is we assume the default of the environment is how we find it but turns out previous handling or lack thereof or even issues up stream lead to the ecosystem collapsing. In my case the previous owner ran goats who ate everything - once they were gone the grasses and invasives were the first to colonize again. They then choked the water way which was flushed by run-off from uphill farmers trying to drain and level their land resulting in shallower water and more medium for the invasives to grow into - over time the roots formed these horrible matts and the issue kept compounding.

[@mariobosnjak99]

​@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton it also helps during drought season because large bodies of water act as containers of water during droughts. Ofc this pond is a bit too shallow to be a significant reservoir but its still a reservoir and every little bit helps

[@artfx9]

Variery bish!

[@Magny80]

Wait...didn't I spot a wild berry brush in the watered area??? I'd transplant it into another area to save the wild berries for the wildlife.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You may have done, this is an acre site at least so there is sufficient berry food in late autumn and winter, anything in the steam/pond won't have berries - my work entails creating habitats for wildlife entirely so there is definitely sufficient habitat and food for the wildlife here - more to come on this site :) Best wishes, Joel

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

Grow wasabi, rice, cat tails, lilies, or other water lovers?

[@rachelmahany1014]

Do you need to get permission to divert the waterway like this?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Les :)

[@veramae4098]

Did you have legal requirements to deal with? I mean, government rules. I do!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

In most cases yes, even on private property but this is left to the clients to arrange if necessary when applying for any planning or changes to use. Best wishes - Joel

[@andrewthomas405]

Bever in london …PR stunt ?

[@danrogers528]

I think you are being a little disingenuous calling it a wildlife pond. The overgrown brook was serving the wildlife just fine before as a sheltered water source. You should be honest with everyone and say you just wanted a pond to plant flowers beside.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks for your input Dan - I've been creating habitats for wildlife for over 18 years so I'd say I know what I'm doing and the reason for doing it. Aside from the clients' instruction this has made the pond better for wildlife, a lot more wildlife. I am honest, which is why I didn't say that I wanted a pond to plant flowers beside.

[@merikatools568]

The music sounds like the soundtrack to a adult Asian romp film

[@davidcobb8422]

Thanks

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you David, so very much. I really do appreciate your generosity and continual support. Still planning to come and see you :) Best wishes, Joel