Turning a Frustrating Feature into a Wildlife Haven

This Wymondham pond owner had been wrestling with an unfinished, leaking, and overgrown pond for years. After hiring a groundworks firm who finished it off with composite decking, the result still felt unnatural and disappointing. The client got in touch with ABBCO with a clear wish: to restore their pond into a finished, attractive space that welcomes wildlife and feels part of the garden.

The Client’s Vision (From the Initial Consultation)

“I would like to introduce plants, but the sides slope and the pond is too deep. There is many years of leaf fall in the pond, so black mud at the bottom... We have now had duckweed for about 5 seasons that totally fills the pond. Half the pond is finished with flagstones; the other half is brambles and weeds. I want it to look good and be maintained — maybe matching the existing patio tiles. Occasionally we see evidence of rats by the pond. We want to get rid of their holes and the scrub and make it nice for birds like ducks but not for rats… I want to end up with a more attractive wildlife pond. And for it to look finished!”

The Main Challenges

Persistent duckweed (5+ seasons)
Black silt and years of leaf buildup
Composite wood decking clashed with the natural aesthetic
Visible drainpipe and signs of rat activity
Leaky liner that only held water to halfway up the wall
No marginal planting shelves or edge habitat
Half-paved, half-overgrown edging that felt unfinished

Before reconstruction:

Our Natural Solution

ABBCO took a holistic approach to bring this pond back to life:

Removed years of duckweed and sludge from the pond bottom
Fixed the liner, locating and sealing unseen leaks
Removed the composite decking and reshaped the exposed edges
Built up and planted soft, natural margins for wildlife and future maintenance
Blended the beach entry with the existing flagstone edge
Concealed visible drainage pipework and prepared areas for potential bog planting
Soft landscaping and turfing to create a seamless look with the surrounding garden

After reconstruction:

A Wildlife-Friendly Finish

The end result was a soft-edged, inviting wildlife pond that blends effortlessly with the garden. Frogs, newts, and ducklings now have access to lush marginal planting and rewilded spaces. The silt has been replaced with healthy planting pockets, and the structural integrity of the pond has been restored. The visual transition between paving and nature now feels organic, not abrupt.

Client Testimonial

“Morgan has been great to work with from start to finish. He listened carefully to what we wanted, gave great advice about what could work and how to improve our leaky pond. Turned up on time every time, worked very hard and delivered a superb result. We have a beautiful pond, liner mended, all restored to life, pond weed and silt replaced with new marginal plants. 🌱 Highly recommended.”

Do You Have a Pond That’s Just Not Working?

If your pond feels unfinished or no longer works for your garden or wildlife, it may be time for a rethink. Whether it’s a full reconstruction, re-edging, or leak fixing, ABBCO specialises in sensitive, experience-led pond work that respects the setting and the wildlife within it. - Contact us.

Pond Reconstruction in Wymondham