Making a SMALL WILDLIFE POND and WILDFLOWER MEADOW - 4K - Timelapse

[@Tofog22000]

Great to see part of a massive lawn converted into a more wildlife friendly habitat! I'm also liking the WYG dance remix 🎶👍

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Great to watch. Thanks Joel

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Really cool work! I have installed a couple of pools myself. Lots of fun!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you - I really appreciate that. I wasn't able to stay at this clients to show the pond a few weeks later when the plants/meadow had established, but I hope to go back in the next few weeks and make the update video to share with everyone :) But thanks for your positivity, it really does make a difference. Best wishes, Joel

[@SwissFrogGuy]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton of course! Too many people put each other down. It’s much cooler when people are supportive!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@SwissFrogGuy Definitely makes the world a better place :) Enjoy your week

[@SwissFrogGuy]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks!

[@Jacksonknox834]

Inspired to build my own wildlife pond watching Joel, learning more and more,his knowledge is second to none, after adding a few plants after watching Joel the amount of butterflies dragonflies and everything else that visits my pond,just love sitting and watching 👀 Thank you Joel,and the mental health benefits are incredible all down to you Joel

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Jackson, you're very welcome and your support, kind words and encouragement mean a lot and definitely encourage me to keep going :) Nature can be a great medicine for those off-days, and the rewards knowing that you're creating such a vital habitat for creatures desperately in need really does improve a day - wishing you and yours a fantastic Christmas - best wishes to you all, Joel

[@Jacksonknox834]

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you Joel that means a lot merry Christmas to you and yours,look forward to watching your next installment.

[@TheRhinoswife]

@Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton What white liner was that please? It sandwiches the liner? Thanks

[@donnavorce8856]

Hi Jackson, I planted about 200 pollinator specialty native mid-west varieties and there were hoards of hungry bees, moths, butterflies, and small flower flies the entire bloom time. It lasted well into October as I had a lot of native asters. A water feature is a dreamy thought which I hope to get done this spring. Meanwhile I'm doubling the pollinator gardens as well. Seed starting will begin this week. It's nice to know there are so many people who want to care for the wild critters. People such as yourself.

[@decline1129]

Ah yes, encourage wildlife to nest in population dense areas versus further out in rural areas where they can thrive. Great work indeed.

[@UkAmphibians]

So looking forward to one of these videos joel to cheer us up with the freezing 🥶 temperatures here thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You’re very welcome 😊👍 Hope you enjoy it mate! 😁

[@merlinambrosius2554]

Looking for the follow up, to see what it looks like with the growth of plants/flowers. Thanks for the video!

[@UkAmphibians]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 💯 enjoyed it joel another amazing pond and wildflower meadow you have created for our beautiful wildlife 🐸💚🐸

[@judyriordan7698]

Yeah you made my Sunday, my friend.

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Another good one. 👏 👏

[@Craig_Humphries]

Looks amazing! And I'm always happy at the prospect of a follow-up video when the ponds have matured a bit. Thanks.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Craig - I've already started planning this year's work schedule and when I'm in the areas of the country again where habitats/ponds have already been created, I am making time to go back and visit and film these for you guys - everyone likes a "before and after" so I hope to bring lots of these to you this year. Best wishes, Joel

[@janiedunn637]

Beautiful 😍 & a 👍🏻 job.

[@AliWilliams-y5q]

I WAS WATCHING THIS WITH MY NINE KIDS AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ALL SAID BEST POND EVER

[@patsyspatch4342]

That was great to see, Thank you Joel.

[@Tuppyandizzy]

Joel can you please explain why were you digging and backfilling the area around 09:00 . Regards .

[@MrGiova-ep7kj]

Probably be was getting paid by the hour worked

[@dogproofwildlifegardening3164]

Another great job! 👍

[@deborahflello2316]

so inspirational and motivating to watch Joel thank you

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Your encouragement and support is appreciated Deborah, as always - thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@BeazersBees]

Love it…👌

[@wolfgangspatt5993]

very cool

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Wolfgang, appreciated :)

[@simoncordingley3122]

Excellent. Thanks again.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Simon, hoping to return to the clients this year and do an update video on how it's looking, can't wait :) I do appreciate the support and encouragement, best wishes - Joel

[@sethhorvath1151]

That’s awesome!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Seth, appreciated 😃

[@843thebear]

Great video, lovely pond

[@dylanwall696]

Thanks for the vid. Out of interest, what is happening after 8.45? Seems you did a hole then move a load of soil about but I can't work out why.

[@barryodowd6123]

They may have buried the topsoil in the hole as it is no feed for the wildflower meadow creation

[@markhunter2244]

Excellent, really looking forward to the update, bet it looks amazing already 🐝

[@4SeasonsWithMartin]

Great job!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Martin, much appreciated :)

[@wibblewobble489]

Whats stopping it from going stagnant with all that dirt in there? What about filtration for the fish that will inevitably come? What happens when it rains and overflows? So many issues not thought about with this pond.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I've been making these ponds in this way for the last 17 years and not one has failed, due to these methods. Filtration is not needed as the native oxygenating plants provide this, along with 60-70% coverage with floating leaved plants, lilies etc. The subsoil used is also very low nutrient so aids in keeping the water clear and negates the need for plastic baskets as planting is possible directly into the soil. I don't recommend fish for these ponds, as with all ponds they create high nutrient with their waste and affect water clarity - this is why you see complicated and artificial pumps and filtration in koi ponds for example. In the UK they rarely overflow, and if they do there is sufficient subsoil and surrounding soil to soak up any overflow. I hope this helps clarify - here's a short video on just a few of the many ponds made this way and how they look once established, due to the thought-out method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU Best wishes - Joel

[@evertwijma5098]

Vorm from pond marvelous, but very small.Evert Wijma.

[@jamesdriggers2011]

Great time lapse! Just digging holes and telling them! Awesome content bro!

[@donnavorce8856]

Damn. That's satisfying. Inspiring. It'd be so amazing to have four or five people and several heavy machines to get this job done. It's me and my shovel and my wheel barrow! Probably a slightly smaller footprint also. Cheers.

[@donnavorce8856]

post script: If you want to see what 200K buys pond-wise check out Canadian Permaculture Legacy. He's got a post showing his amazing water feature. 200K - lot of cash, eh?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Donna, sorry for delay in acknowledging you, just trying to catch up with everyone. The machinery and extra guys certainly do help. Not sure if you have seen the timelapse pond or instructional videos on the channel but they show me building a pond with a shovel and buckets as the property had high steps in and out of the rear garden. Hope this encourages you and best wishes for 2023 - Joel

[@donnavorce8856]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton No worries from me Joel. Nice of you to respond. I'll have a look at the video which you suggested (and more too) and see how far I think I can get doing the work by hand. In any case, thanks for sharing your pond work. It certainly is beautiful.

[@nickiramsay2421]

I love watching your time lapse videos Joel, it’s so interesting to see the process of building the ponds. I really like the shape of this one, I hope we get to see updates when it’s more established too. 😊

[@natureguy180]

What a beautiful addition to an exquisite garden!

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Neat work. Nice job.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate this - best wishes, Joel

[@jamescunningham1973]

Great job that Joel,would love to see it after a year.I bet you love your job

[@grym9350]

The mosquitos gonna love it

[@sallydavies2563]

What a beautiful,garden and the pond just makes it even better. Is there another video showing it once it’s established?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Sally, it's another one I need to return to - I work all over the country, and I mean ALL over the country, so when a pond is finished I have to set off to make another one and it's rarely within viable driving distance (typically!) but all the ponds I've created are now on my logistics planner so that when I am nearby again I can do update videos - so many videos haven't been uploaded yet as I want to make complete "before and after" videos and show them once established and all the wildlife attracted, it's going to be a slowly but surely process! The clients do send email updates with what they've seen and show me the progress but no-one would want just photos in a video I think. Very best wishes, Joel

[@SirenaReign]

Now, imagine doing this in Blue Rock and Lava rock on an active volcano in Hawai’i. I’m still going to invest in building a pond like this even in a tough moonscape terrain. It’s going to be beautiful but it can and will be done. That dirt is so beautiful 🤩 ❤ I wish I could have green grass like that!!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow! That takes some imagining, and it'll take some dedication but you seem like the kind of person determined to make that work. Keep me updated on your progress, keep in touch as I'd love to see some photos when you're done - it would also make a great youtube series so don't forget to film the process and success. Best wishes, Joel

[@gardeninside1367]

Very beautiful pond,joel! Worth your hard work.👏🌼

[@frankroberts9661]

A few questions: without circulation, mechanical filtration, biological filtration, or aeration how will this not stagnate? The white fabric over the liner is going to wick moisture from the pond into the soil and drain the pond? The soil inside and around the pond is going to settle to the bottom and leave the feature dirty, murky and sludgy. Have you ever considered the Aquascape method? Easier, better process, and better finished result.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Frank, thanks for your questions. The ponds do not stagnate due to the natural oxygenating plants, low nutrient subsoil and natural vegetation cover - they need managing of course, ie leaf removal in autumn until the leaves have stopped dropping, and in very hot or particularly windy weather then of course they can suffer evaporation, the same as any water body, so may need a little replenishing. The subsoil does indeed settle after a few days and along with the oxygenating plants the ponds clear in just a few weeks. The white fleece is covered with a layer of low nutrient subsoil to keep the pond clear, the liner protected further and a substance to plant into naturally, negating the need for plastic baskets. Aquascape did contact me a few years ago about being an advocate or contractor, but in the UK. However, unless a client requests a water feature and therefore it requires a pump etc then I will necessarily incorporate this, but for the informal wildlife ponds there is no need if they are set up correctly. The reason expensive filtration set-ups are required for koi fish for example is due to their natural "waste" increasing nutrient levels and encouraging algae etc - I don't recommend anything other than small native fish to any wild-life pond of course, but it doesn't mean I don't like fish in other settings. I've been making ponds this way for circa 17 years now and not one has failed or required any mechanical filtration except, again, if it is needed in some designs. To show you how these ponds establish in just a few weeks, here's a short video showing just a few of the many made using this method, and even one with a water feature I believe :) Hope this helps explain the different methods. Best wishes - Joel kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU

[@Flossy_tops]

Nice one Joel 👍 …. Since subscribing to your channel I’ve learnt so much from your expertise and passion for wildlife. Some of those ideas I’m now adopting and creating in my own garden. And after such a short time I’ve seen an increase in wildlife. Thank you 👍

[@MagicalZach]

Native plants are the best !!!

[@george-1961]

Another great meadow and pond for the benefit of helping wildlife 😮 Keep up the good work Joel 👌🏻👏🏻😊

[@KevinAPamwar]

very nice

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Kevin, I'm headed back to this site in the next few weeks where I will be filming an update video on the pond and meadow and how it looks now :) Best wishes, Joel

[@mariagillinson8527]

Would love an update on this pond!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Maria :) It's on it's way...along with many others. I work all over the country and unfortunately can't stay to film the "after" photos a few weeks later... but at the beginning of this year all clients have been added to the logistics list so that when I'm within an hour or so of them I can return and give full updates. Best wishes, Joel

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

Joel quick question……………you build up the rocks in the centre of the pond with like a sand mix ? Doesn’t the sand just wash away from those rocks once the pond is full of water ? Just seemed a bit weird to me or am I missing something basic ?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - sorry for the delay. It does look like a sand mix but it is the subsoil, it settles really well and keeps the pond clear. Forgive me if you've seen already but there is a 3 part series on the channel about how and why I made ponds like this. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Superb Joel, I will go and take a look. Thank you

[@billk3559]

Hi Joel. I've build a pond based on watching your videos. I am losing a lot of water and i am wondering if this is due to wicking of the overlay which comes up over the edge and which i have covered with soil. Is there a way to prevent this loss?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Bill, if you're in the UK then it could certainly be the hot weather at the moment, but wind can also play a part in evaporation. So I can advise correctly, is it possible to send an email with a couple of photos of the pond so I can see if there's anything else at play - [e-mail] - the subsoil will soak up a fair amount of water until it is settled and compacted, and if you've planted already then the plants will soak up water too while they're establishing their roots. But again, if you send across a few photos I'll be able to advise specifically. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@phedrob3735]

Loved this one Joel. Would love to see it when matured. Any chance you'll be doing a catch up video?

[@edwardshaw9700]

Hello, do we have an "after" to see what the pond looks like now?

[@JamesRattray]

Great to see the wildlife pond going in. Having had a rubber lined wildlife pond installed back in 2005, I am hoping to put in a clay lined wildlife pond. Clay was used to line all the original canals, why not wildlife ponds? My thinking is the mud below the water level is important for wildlife too, isn't it? I say this without a huge amounts of knowledge, but it would make sense. Love to know your thoughts too please.

[@craigfarleymusician8481]

What a perfect addition to an already beautiful garden. Love the shape of the pond , and the way you built and set the rocks for retaining wall section in the middle 😊

[@Blaze8304]

Can I ask what waterproofing sheets are you using?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Blaze, the liner is EPDM rubber butyl - if you're in the UK we sell it (and everything else you need) at www.wildyourgarden.com and we're happy to advise on amount needed according to pond size/depth. The white sheets are industrial fleece. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

[@RandomHer03]

Can the ponds overflow in rainy seasons?

[@jimji2774]

My god what a lot of work just for a pond but great job for sure.

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Subscribed! Really red soil. Reminds me of the clay soil from when I lived in Georgia, USA.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

This subsoil was absolutely perfect and ensures low nutrients so the pond stays clear and the meadow flowers thrive :) Thank you for the support and encouragement and welcome to the channel - best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@lakshmik3563]

Not easy! What a lot of work went into it! How is it now?.Post a latest photo!

[@1daithio]

Class video! About 10 mins in they dug holes and refilled. Were they just getting rid of subsoil?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there David - thank you, I really appreciate your kind words and support :) Unfortunately this timelapse doesn't have a narrative, but the way I make the ponds, we "mine" the subsoil and use this to line the pond as it's very low nutrient and keeps the water clear and also allows planting directly into the soil. The client wanted a meadow area adjacent to the pond so we took off the top soil and replaced with the subsoil at the top, again low nutrient so it means that thistles, docks and the more "thuggish" plants don't get a good foothold (they like high nutrient) and it gives the more "gentle" wildflowers a chance to take hold and thrive. Hope this explains - there is a 3 part series on how I make the ponds on the channel if you were interested - if you go to "videos" on the channel you'll find lots of help there - but I'm here if you have any questions at all - best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

[@mariagillinson8527]

What was happening with the second part after you put in the pond. We’re you just prepping for the wild flowers… so no filter action equipment?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Maria - no, no filters and no pumps required in these ponds, nature does everything, including keeping the water clear :) The areas around the pond were ready for the wildflower seeds etc. Update coming soon. Best wishes, Joel

[@raymondsantiago966]

aren't you going to add filtration system? how much you charged for this and what location is it

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Raymond - with these wildlife ponds they do not require any artificial filtration or pump systems - the subsoil used and the oxygenating plants, also floating leaved plants keep the water clear and will only need maintenance once a year, less than most ponds, when clearing leaves from the surface and managing the plants. This particular pond was in Lincolnshire in UK. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@williammallender8391]

great video - lovely soil, not a sign of Thames valley clay, you can feel it after a morning of bastard trenching

[@itsmewende]

Really interesting how you put in a pond. Do you ever get the chance to go back and see how much they've grown.?

[@MrClavieduson]

what is this black plastic material??

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Clavie, this is EPDM rubber liner - hope this helps but if you need any advice I'm here :) Best wishes, Joel

[@PaddyDixieTheMinerva82]

Great job. I was wondering if the soil along the outside edge where you planted edging plants will wash down into the pond or out into the surrounding ground as its sitting on top of the liner which will get waterlogged occasionally if there is heavy rains and the pond over fills?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, the soil doesn't move down these ponds, it is down to the grading etc and the right soil, but the soil stays in place :) Best wishes, Joel

[@charlotteseden9303]

Hi Joel, I have a question for you. How do you know what size of liner to get if you have a 3 feet deep area? I was thinking of a pond 10' x 20'. Do you have a formula or way you can share how to figure that out? Thanks

[@elizabethwoodhouse9461]

Great video. Need help understanding the second half of the site. Why dig up the soil just to put it back again. Is it something to do with replacing with subsoil to reduce fertility ready for wildflowers?

[@ozdigg9254]

my question too :)))

[@bgbthabun627]

@@ozdigg9254 and mine as well!!!

[@philipmaycock4199]

I’m glad you typed that, it saved me time doing it, thanks.

[@edcarson3113]

You answered correctly.

[@bethanydavis9023]

Pretty sure it's just a different perspective recorded of the process

[@edwinmonster90]

Awesome! What a piece of work! Woud love to see the results after a year or after two years... :)

[@MrGiova-ep7kj]

People asking why he was digging and covering the hole. He was getting paid by the hour.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

LOL - all jobs are priced on the end result, which means the weather plays a big part in how long they take of course. It's difficult to know from the timelapse but what we were doing was inverting the top-soil to ensure the wildflower meadow had a lot less nutrients and the more delicate wildflowers a chance to compete against thistles, nettles etc which all love fertility :) Best wishes - Joel

[@MrGiova-ep7kj]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks for the answer. The curiosity was killing me.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@MrGiova-ep7kj You're very welcome 🙂👍

[@MarcoBertozzi]

Hi and thank you for the video. What are the implications of not adding soil over the liner? Is that just to encourage things to grow, could you not do that ad add plants in porous pots, same question for the large stones etc? Sorry many questions - how big was that pond? And was that gravel at the other end you added?

[@nicholaswelsh8486]

Just the size of pond I'm looking to have in my garden here in Suffolk. What sort of cost is involved? We've already sorted out the wildflower meadow, just need the pond.

[@alisonburgess345]

Gee your ponds look great - as if they've always been there. I couldn't do mine in the end because (of course) being in the front unfenced yard, it was a drowning hazard sheesh! I'll do a small pond in the back mini orchard! This one looks excellent - well done 💯

[@The_ZeroLine]

In order for it not to become an algae choked pond, you need a dense mix of plants along the pond to keep the water clean and filtered. You’ll have to either have a temporary filtering mechanism or later remove and replace half or more of the water when the plants start getting big so it has on reset and then the water will be permanently clear after that.

[@creativecascades1328]

None the less a daily fall of pollen, dust, dirt and leaves will quickly accumulate in this sort of pond. In nature you would never find a completely sealed-in pond, water leaves and enters from all manner of places. The trick with ponds is to mimic this eb n flow of water. Each time it rains, water laden with dirt will enter the pond and accumulate. The way to avoid this is to ensure the liner is higher than the surrounding grade. Joel did a good job for a non specialist but there is way more to ponds than simply a hole filled with water.

[@thorburnjschwegler]

The only thing I would add to it is big Stones around the pond but that's all I would change it looks amazing

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you so much, we do add stones/boulders but only if the client requests, if not then it does open up more area for important wildflowers along the pond edge :) Really appreciate your encouragement, thank you - best wishes, Joel

[@GremlinGaiety]

Any ETA on an update video for this pond?

[@sampedro9316]

I want to do this but by hand and no liner.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It's certainly possible, if you have the right soil and compaction it can be done without a liner, or you can use bentonite but it works out very expensive. I hope that you make a pond for wildlife though, it's the best habitat you can install. Best wishes, Joel

[@craddocraddoc]

Interesting concept. I've never seen a pond done with garden soil intead of gravel, without filtration and with a stone wall in the deepest spot. I would guess this layout will get huge algae problems and be a breeding ground for mosquito?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - it doesn't explain on this video due to the timelapse of course, but it's not general garden soil but sub-soil that is used, this means that it's low nutrient and helps keep the water clear and algae at bay alongside the oxygenating and cover plants - these all negate the need for artificial filtration/pumps - adding fish to a pond of course means a necessity for filtration due to the amount of waste adding nutrient to the water ( ie those expensive set-ups for keeping koi fish for example) - in the UK these wildlife ponds don't suffer high mosquito numbers due to the set-up for wildlife and them encouraging bats, birds, amphibians and larger insects who all feast on mosquitoes and their larvae. If you wanted to see how these ponds establish in a few short weeks then this quick video shows just a few of many made over the last 17 years and how natural they look within a short time :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU There's also a 3 part series on the channel on how and why I make the ponds like this - hope this helps explain - best wishes, Joel

[@craddocraddoc]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Very cool, thanks for the answer!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're very welcome :) It's difficult to work out the method and reasoning when it's timelapse of course but I'm glad this helped - best wishes

[@BrodiCrow]

So a mosquito pool and a weed bed … cool 😂

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Not for long - wildlife ponds if set up properly encourage bats, amphibians, birds and larger insects who all feast on any mosquito and their larvae. Weeds = wildflowers, native to the UK but vital to so much wildlife. What IS also cool is that after a few weeks they establish, without any need for artificial pumps or filters due to native oxygenators, into these - just a few of the many made this way over the last 18 years: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU Hope this helps...

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

Gorgeous looking pond as always😍 Love the colour of that sandy soil and subsoil👌 I have send you an email with some questions and dillemas's I'm having regards planning and building my pond next year. Keep the videos coming, we can use some enjoyable entertainment while having frost during the days and nights🥶

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

I just watched this mini documentairy about the benefit of a wildlife pond and meadow and it's effect it has on all levels of the local wildlife🥰 Would definitely recommend watching this video👍🏻 kzbin.info/www/bejne/an3ZkottaZ2jjKs

[@surebrec5113]

10:45 What's the black floaty stuff that's thrown into the water?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there, it's a vital oxygenator :)

[@surebrec5113]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Ah right. Thanks.

[@malouhodnyisad_Olja]

Hello Joel! Of course, out of your 340 videos, I only watched a few, but unfortunately I’m missing something (and I’m sure your viewers too): show not only the creation of the pond, but also how it lives in subsequent years and what it looks like in a year or two , five years. I want to see all this in one video. As a last resort, at the end of the first video you can put an ending screensaver, where it will be shown what happened to this pond next.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! I have saved many videos and not uploaded yet until I get a chance to go back to client's gardens - unfortunately because I create habitats all over the United Kingdom it is very difficult for me to hang around for a few weeks to see the plants establish etc - once I have completed a pond I find I'm usually travelling many many miles away to start the next one. But that's the reason I have saved many pond creations until I can get back to them and do an update for the end of each video. I did revisit a pond created last year, on Friday just gone and did an update with the client, hopefully I can upload this next week. In the meantime though, here's just a few of the many ponds created previously and what they look like in a few weeks - hope this helps imagine until I can get back to all the ponds created :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU Best wishes, Joel

[@melj4581]

Love watching your vidoe's we are currently digging an area for our pond and I would like to have a natural habitat around it. My question is.. we only have top soil we are low lying land with very rich soil it goes from rich straight to clay. If we brought in sub soil and place it ontop of the top soil will this be good enough for wild flowers to grow? _/\_

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Mel, sorry for the delay, just trying to catch up with everyone :) The addition of subsoil will be fine for the plants to grow in, remember that the subsoil that I place over the fleece is between 4-6 inches deep and the plants survive fine on this amount. If you are in the UK and are in need of subsoil then please send an email to us at [e-mail] and we can certainly help with advice and requirements. I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@jojocinco5]

no filter for the pond?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there, no filter needed or pumps etc :) The native oxygenators, subsoil and floating leaved plants all keep these ponds clear without the need for filtration. If you were to put large fish in then yes, filtration would be needed to combat the nutrient in the fish "waste" which causes algae and murky ponds. Here's just a few of the many ponds I've made this way and how they establish after a few weeks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU

[@Narnendil]

Looks great! Would love to see an update a year later! :D

[@Arthur_My_Dear]

With the meadow bit you seem to be digging, flattening, digging, flattening…what’s going on there?

[@olgalaurina2464]

Hello Joel, I've watched several videos of your ponds and I'm absolutely fascinated by the way they are merged in the environment. And I have a question to which I haven't yet found the answer: what about capillar effect: is it not such a big problem as pictured or do you have a smart solution?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Olga, using the subsoil does mean that the establishing plants will use the water through the soil, but only reducing the water level by a few inches, which can be easily topped up - both the sun and wind can play a part in water evaporation so it's always good to have at least 60-70% floating leaf plant cover, this also helps to combat algal growth as it likes it warm and the cover/shade keeps the ponds cool :) I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@olgalaurina2464]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel, that was really helpful! And good luck with your future projects

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Love these time lapse videos! Just curious....why the pond was not put on the opposite side, basically switching the meadow and pond....Kept thinking thru the whole video that I would have liked it opposite the patio area to be enjoyed from a closer vantage point. Wish I could have something like this in my yard. Will be beautiful once the plantings grow in.

[@lornawallace2566]

But, how do you build a pond on a slope? I'm about to give up because no-one explains clearly how to do this!

[@regholwill8476]

No water pump. Water will go stagnant, ideal habitat for mosquitto lava, lots of gnats in the summer, best of luck.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks for your input Reg, but there's no luck needed with the ponds I've been creating like this for nearly 20 years now - wildlife ponds attract wildlife, like amphibians, bats, birds, larger insects and they all feast on mosquitoes and their *larvae* - here's a few of the many ponds created this way and how they look once established: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU Water pumps and filters are needed for expensive koi set-ups where fish continue to add nutrient - native oxygenators and the method used will keep this pond clear. I'm also going back to this pond to film it in a few weeks and it will look exactly like the ones above.

[@jamesm3156]

Hi Joel, thank you for another awesome, inspiring and educational video. Question - in these tough economic times, is there a cheaper alternative to an expensive pond liner? I am desperate to create a small 3m x 3m pond, but the only thing holding me back is spending £500-600 on a liner, not to mention stones, shingle, plants etc…? Thank you again!

[@wibblewobble489]

Look up water tanks and fiberglass ponds that you just plonk in the hole.

[@v_mystery3050]

Filtration system?

[@sallystephanledvina8252]

All that hard work and it looks like a mess at the end.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks for your expertise Sally - I make these ponds for a living and am unable to stay to film them once they're established - if you're thinking of making one (no doubt better than this of course) then you might find this short video of interest. It shows just a few of many ponds created over the years, using this exact method and no need for artificial pumps, liner showing, filtration... plants take time to establish, as do meadows: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU

[@carlindurfee7566]

You didn’t put a pump or filter did you? It will stay nasty if not

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Carlin, no, I never use a pump or filter unless the pond is ornamental or whether the client wants to have a water feature. These ponds stay clean due to the method used and the planting - here's just a few of the many created over the last 18 years and how they look a few weeks after the plants have established and the water clears - no filtration needed :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU Best wishes, Joel

[@crabkilla]

Nice one - if you were going to all that effort, I would have made it at least 50% bigger

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you - I build to the client's requirements and affordability of course, so am restricted but this pond takes up a fair amount of the garden :)

[@Interstellar__98]

Add some more stones at surroundings.. more pebbles please ..it will be awsome

[@louisetremblay5603]

Looks beautiful, but I'd be worried about all the mosquitoes breeding in this...

[@michaelsalvato6081]

Built lots of ponds. All of them the goal was to keep out the dirt and never have mud. This is weird to me. Every year the clean out was specifically to get any of the dirt out. Very strange to me

[@EasyHikes4810]

Love this❤! Really cool timelapse, Joel👍. I like the fact that you can see the whole process from beginning to end in a relatively short time . I really like the deep channel in the middle of the pond and the shape of it😍. It will be good to see it all mature and fully established. Hoping that all is well and that you have a bit more time (if there is such a thing😉) during the colder months to catch up on new projects etc. Have a great holiday season with friends and family🎄🎄.

[@EdurtreG]

Skip "mini". 😁

[@kevindignam8847]

Small ?

[@SisterDogmata]

Hey Joel! I could watch ponds being created all day long! This one looks amazing. No doubt within days it attracted so much more wildlife to their garden. You all look like you're busting some funky dance moves when you're speeded up like that. Made us laugh. Hope you and yours all well and as excited for xmas as my lot. Best wishes.

[@ONEFUNFONE]

What a train wreck to watch.... This isn't how you build a correct pond folks. All that contaminated dirt going back in is a huge no. It's not deep enough, too small, wrong shape, filtration is inadequate- there's nothing natural about it that will benefit the fish for the long run. The only winners in this project are the scammers that pulled one over on that unsuspecting landowner.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Sorry to disappoint - however, it's great when folks demonstrate publicly how little they actually know. I've been building these for 17 years, in this way without contaminated "dirt" (it's subsoil, to enlighten you) and they're NOT for fish, hence the title "Wildlife" - fish are the reason that pumps and filters are needed, hence expensive Koi set-ups. It's deep enough, large enough, the right shape too and the native oxygenators negate the use of filters. It won't interest you no doubt, but here's how these ponds establish after a few weeks - same method, same subsoil and no filtration or pumps required: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU

[@pompeymonkey3271]

"Wild Your Garden" by imposing as much control over it as you can possibly do? Not my cup of tea. But a thumbs up for doing a good job :)

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, and yes - it's Wild Your Garden as opposed to re-wild your garden, which to be fair if you go back far enough would consist of scrub and bramble etc. The channel is about encouraging "traditional" gardeners to include vital habitat for our much depleted nature which is desperately in need of our help and to show that wild doesn't necessarily mean messy and showcasing the beauty of native wildflowers. As I work all over the UK it's rather difficult to hang about for a few weeks until the ponds and meadows are established. But here's two short videos showing a few of many ponds created this way and how they establish, and the same with the meadows - I've been creating these successfully for nearly 20 years now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiUqGqDis2bjtU kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqvJmKJtdrxgiK8 Hope this helps explain - best wishes, Joel

[@jesusmunoz3948]

Amén

[@Splootzi]

No filtration or movement??? Thats a death by mosquito trap here in the Southeast US.

[@billy3424]

With no circulating water pomp, it's just a home for mosquitos.

[@hadi7ahmed266]

instead of putting music you can talk about the measurement and details about the pond