Common Frogs in Your Garden One of the great things about water gardening and having a garden pond is the diversity of wildlife that it will attract. We have only a few amphibians in the UK, one of our most treasured being the common frog, (Latin name Rana Temporaria). Even the smallest garden pond will […]
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Raft Spider (Dolomedes Fimbriatus) One of the UK’s largest Spider is the semi-aquatic, Raft Spider (Dolomedes Fimbriatus), also known as the Fishing Spider. With a leg span of 7cm, Raft Spiders spend their lives in surrounding pond vegetation that’s close to the water’s edge. They spend much of their time resting their front legs on […]
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Memories of Beam Brook Aquatic Farm in Newdigate, Surrey During my childhood, I used to frequently visit a very special place called Beam Brook Aquatic Fish Farm. Also known by locals as The Field Station. This article is a journey back to my Memories of Beam Brook Aquatic Farm in Newdigate, Surrey. Where This wonderful place […]
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The Allotment Water Garden Over the years, many customers have come to my retail nursery to purchase pond plants for water features in their allotments. These small container ponds can be created very simply by using half Oak barrels, old Belfast sinks, old style bath tubs etc… In fact, anything that is watertight and can […]
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Hibernation time for Frogs, Newts, Toads and Grass Snakes, with winter approaching, our Amphibians and Grass Snakes will be getting ready for their winters sleep. In late summer and early autumn, our British Frogs, Newts, Toads and Grass Snakes will be eating plenty so as to gain enough weight to sustain them during their annual […]
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Also known by their Latin name (Nepa Cinerea), Water Scorpions are insects that look similar to land Scorpions. Dark brown in colour and 3-5 cm in length, they certainly are a strange-looking insect. Strangest of it is their long narrow tail that looks like a sting. In fact, this is actually their breathing apparatus! They […]
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Long before my aquatic nursery even existed, I used to visit another aquatic nursery in Newdigate, known throughout my childhood as the Field Station. This wonderful place sold all kinds of Amphibians, Reptiles and Fish as well as an interesting range of pond plants. You can read more about the Field Station on my article […]
Read in fullMy First Wildlife Ponds Introduction I have always had a massive interest in wildlife and plants. By the time I had reached the age of twenty five, I had kept and studied numerous Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Insects, Amphibians and plants. As a teenager I used to breed many species of Butterflies and Moths. No doubt […]
Read in fullMemories of Beam Brook Aquatic Farm in Newdigate, Surrey During my childhood, I used to frequently visit a very special place called Beam Brook Aquatic Fish Farm. Also known by locals as The Field Station, this wonderful place was just two miles down the road from my parents house and where my retail […]
Read in fullWhere Does Our Pond Wildlife Arrive From? This is a question I get asked a lot. Many people are often amazed at just how quick wildlife seems to arrive in their pond as if from nowhere. So, just where does it arrive from? All new ponds large or small will start attracting wildlife within days […]
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