A raised pond can be a stylish focal point in a small garden — and it’s one of the best things you can do for wildlife.
But many gardeners assume ponds mean filters, regular cleaning and lots of maintenance.
Now wildlife experts now say the opposite. In fact, a raised pond is far easier than you might think, even when space is limited.
Traditional pond advice, based on keeping fish, has been turned on its head by wildlife experts. I spoke to Oliver Fry of The Wildlife Trusts about why wildlife ponds need almost no maintenance — and why even a small raised pond can make a big difference.
Let’s look at the myths and common assumptions to find out how easy having a raised pond can be.
Myth 1: A Raised Pond Won’t Help Wildlife Much
You may think your small plot can’t help wildlife.
But the RHS State of Gardening Report 2025 says that domestic gardens in the UK ‘provide habitat for over 40% of both bird species and mammals, and more than half of butterfly, amphibian and reptile species. A single domestic garden can host thousands of species, including ones yet to be described.’
So what we all do in our gardens makes a difference. And according to the RHS ‘The single easiest way to add wildlife value to a garden is to install a pond.’
Oliver says that ‘any pond is better than no pond’ — even a small raised one. ‘Although, the optimum pond for wildlife is at ground level because it’s easier for creatures to get in and out, even a bucket or an old sink can be helpful.’
The key is to make sure that creatures of all kinds can get in and out. Oliver recommends adding stones inside or outside, piling up logs and growing plants to link the pond to the garden.
Create a ‘beach’ about 6″ below the edge of the pond by adding bricks, stones and pond plants. ‘That’s the area that will have the most wildlife,’ says Oliver. Birds will take baths in it and eat insects around the edges. Hedgehogs can get in and out – and the water is warmer where it’s shallower too.
Then build up access on the outside by placing pots, logs or stones beside the pond. ‘You could prop up and old paving stone,’ he says.
And fill your pond with pond plants. The leaves, stems and roots all provide an opportunity for access. Bees will land on waterlily pads to drink and damsel flies will use the stems of pond plants to climb out of the water.
For an easy step-by- step guide on how to make a raised pond, see How to Create a Beautiful Container Pond for Wildlife.
From recycled sinks to a dish with pebbles and water – it’s all valuable to wildlife. Both from show gardens for BBC Gardener’s World Live by Frances Tophill and Leanne Wood.
Myth 2: ‘You have to clean ponds regularly or they’ll go bad’
This is not true.
In fact, if your priority is to help wildlife, cleaning your pond zealously could be the worst thing you could do.
In the past, you were advised to clean your pond out at least once a year. You were expected to drain it, scrub out the sludge and refresh the water.
Now Oliver says that advice is not just out-dated and unnecessary: ‘It can even do more harm than good.’
The ‘no dig’ movement is based on the discovery that soil is more healthy when it’s disturbed as little as possible. The same new thinking now applies to a pond, whether it’s big or small. Nature thrives on minimum interference and your pond will be cleaner, with less algae, if you do as little as possible.
(If you’re interested in No Dig for Flower Borders, you can read about it here.)
Modern mini pond maintenance – let the plants do the work for you!
Get the plants to do the work for you, advises Oliver. ‘And otherwise leave your raised pond alone as much as possible. ‘
‘Fill it with plants,’ he says. ‘Plants provide an important function in taking up nutrients from the water.’ This keeps the pond naturally free from the green algae that all pondkeepers dread.
‘Keeping a pond clean means filling it with lots of plants that filter the water naturally, siting it away from trees that could drop leaves on it and
Oliver says disturbing ponds can more harm than good, but if you get leaves falling in in autumn, then fish them out. ‘It’s best not to position a raised pond under trees,’ he says. That’s because if leaves fall into the water and break down, they’ll create the extra nutrients you want to avoid.
I have a small barrel pond which I created eight years ago (see How To Make a Mini Wildlife Pond). I have never cleaned it. But its water is clear. Oliver says he rarely cleans his mini ponds either.
New, easy rule:
Whether your pond is a small barrel or a generous stone tank, you won’t have to clean it so often if you fill it with aquatic plants. The top photo is my mini pond which I have never cleaned in eight years.
Myth 3: ‘You need a pond pump or filter for a pond to work’
The idea of having to install or maintain equipment puts many people off getting a raised pond.
But, once again, this is a myth for wildlife ponds. It’s based on fish-keeping in ponds.
If you’ve got fish, says Oliver, you do probably need a pond pump or filter. But if your priority is wildlife, you don’t need either a pump or a filter.
If you do have either, make sure that small creatures don’t get sucked into the filter and trapped. Add mesh to the outlet.
Provided you have lots of plants in your raised pond, they will keep the water clean for you.
Prioritise your native pond plants and included ‘oxygenating’ plants.
Local nurseries and garden centres usually have an aquatic section or sell useful starter packs with a good balance of the aquatic plants you need.
You won’t need to fertilise pond plants (in fact, fertiliser will only encourage algae). You don’t need to water them as they’re already in the pond. And they wont’ need staking, so pond plants will give you good low-maintenance interest for the garden.
A pond isn’t a piece of equipment. It’s a living system.
I asked Oliver if you could ‘overcrowd’ a raised pond. He said that too many plants were unlikely to harm the pond, although he’d generally stick to covering half the surface area with plants.
Myth 4: Small ponds don’t really ‘work’
People think wildlife ponds need to be big to matter.
Or they instal one and are disappointed because it doesn’t seem to be attracting much wildlife in the first summer.
But Oliver says that small ponds still attract birds, beetles, insects and dragonflies.dragonflies
‘It’s worth remembering, however, that some of these won’t arrive instantly. If your raised pond isn’t full of newts, frogs and water beetles in the first year or so , don’t think that it’s been a failure.’ A pond can take a couple of years to acquire its full range of wildlife.
‘But when you put in a pond, however small, it will only be a few days before you’ll see birds drinking and bathing in it,’ he says.
‘And that’s a wonderful reward for putting in a pond.’
Best advice:
Give the pond time to ‘mature’.
Even the smallest container of water will attract garden birds within days – or even hours.
Myth 5: ‘Ponds are risky, messy and complicated’
People worry about mosquitoes, rats, safety and whether you’ll need to keep the pond constantly topped up.
Oliver admits that a pond can attract mosquitoes. ‘But it also attracts their predators. You may get more mosquitoes in the first year, but after that it balances out.
You can also minimise the risk of mosquitoes with a pump if you want to.
And mosquitoes breed in shallow water. If your raised pond is 2ft/30cm deep or more at its deepest point, then you’re less likely to get mosquitoes.
However, if you live in a country where mosquitoes carry deadly diseases, take local advice.
As for rats, they are attracted to many aspects of human habitation. Make sure that they can’t get at any discarded food.
New advice:
-
-
Mosquitoes should reduce in numbers as predators arrive
-
Rats are about hygiene, not water. Make sure they can’t get at any discarded food and keep bird feeders clean.
-
Raised ponds are often safer and more visible. Toddlers and babies must always be supervised around water, but they’re less likely to fall into a raised pond.
-
Small container raised pond from RHS Chelsea and large raised pond at the Horniman Museum & Gardens.
Need-to-know raised pond tips from Oliver Fry, Surrey Wildlife Trust
The Wildlife Trusts also has helpful advice on building ponds here.
-
Don’t skimp on the liner.
If you’re building a raised pond, use a good-quality pond liner and an underlay. “Finding and fixing a leak can be surprisingly difficult,” says Oliver Fry. -
Built ponds can cost more — but there are budget options.
Raised ponds are often more expensive than digging a pond, but recycled industrial or agricultural containers and plastic sump buckets can be affordable alternatives. (Amazon links are affiliate — see disclosure.) See 20+ recycled and upcycled garden ideas for tips on upcycling and finding vintage containers. -
Use oxygenating plants.
These help keep water clear. Oliver recommends Hornwort (here from Lincolnshire Pond Plants). Many aquatic centres sell Elodeawhich is invasive in the UK, but fine to use in the US, where it’s native. -
Check containers are pond-safe.
If a container isn’t sold as a pond, check with the manufacturer that it won’t leach chemicals into the water. -
Create a ‘beach’ inside the pond.
A planted shelf about 6 inches below the rim helps wildlife climb out safely. -
Add access outside the pond too.
Place planted pots beside it, make a small log ‘staircase’ or add a pile of stones. These also act as wildlife habitats. -
Top up with rainwater if possible.
Rainwater is best. If you use tap water, leave it standing for a couple of days before adding it to the pond. - All this advice applies to larger ponds too. If you’re ready for a bigger pond, see 30+ Beautiful Garden Pond Ideas here.
Remember raised pond myths and tips
And do join us. See here for a free weekly email with more gardening tips, ideas and inspiration.
