Another step forward

Someone in a gardening programme the other week suggested the best thing gardeners could do for wild life was have a area of still water. A pond.

That has been under development in my garden for some time. An area was identified, the shape of a pond marked out and tentative digging undertaken. It was time to return. There was wild life to be encouraged.

Solutions were found to problems which had appeared insurmountable. Turf was used to strengthen the sides and a place was found for the removed soil. The blip shows the result of my excavations. Coorie dog is trying to claim credit but it was all my own work.

The next step was to line with felt. This protects the liner from the catastrophic effects of small sharp stones. Coorie spent time lying and sleeping on the felt. A bit like the princess and the pea, she was testing to make sure no stones were coming through which would impact on the liner. It was pronounced satisfactory.

The liner was fitted and the pond now exists. The water has revealed the need for some minor work on levels. I anticipate Coorie to be just as useful with that task as she has been with the others.