IN an effort to control slugs and attract wildlife, I have joined the life aquatic and a small pond has been added at the plot.

An established pond has been a feature of my garden for many years and it is pure joy to watch the wildlife throughout the year, particularly the frogs, peeping through the watermint. Having fished some 15 dead frogs from our pond last month following the freezing winter, I thought this would be a lean year for frogspawn. Not a bit of it, and there is more than enough to share at the new pond.

Both ponds have been created with wildlife firmly in mind. One side has a rockery beach with graduated pebbles to allow amphibians access to the water easily. Behind this is a boggy area sunken in soil where yellow flag grows, providing shelter from predators.

Already having one established pond has made it easier creating a second, being able to share resources. As well as transferring frogspawn, I will also add a bucketful of existing pond water to help introduce aquatic life into the new pond.

It’s a little early to transfer plants or add oxygenators, essential for the balance of the water garden, preventing slimy algae build-up, but it has been fun planning what will be planted round the edges to create shade.

And, best of all I can’t wait for my natural slug control to take effect.