Jane and Graham at Panel Cottage

We completed our wildlife pond in April 2019 and have been amazed by how established and teeming with life it has become in just a year. The highlight so far this Spring is the spawning of our little sticklebacks - we now have shoals of fry to entertain us. The lilac just by it has been a delight with a heady perfume and very luxuriant flowering 

A small collection of old terracotta pots of assorted succulents and a South African Night Scented Stock soak up the sun in the south of the garden. 

The pond has a shallow beach to allow any creatures to escape and a rough stone wall to provide shelter for amphibians. The edges are planted with a variety of Irises, Ragged Robin, Bugle, Sweet Rocket, Veronica, Primulas, ‘Mind your own business’, Geraniums, and an assortment creeping rockery plants.

Each year the borders are gradually being stocked with Aliums. We are always recycling/ up cycling to add a bit of interest so there is a variety of ‘found’ things dotted around in the borders, too - the hanging bird feeder was found on Climping beach, washed up after a storm!.

We laid slate stepping stones down one side of the pond and again it is surprising how quickly the plants have grown in-between

I wanted several ‘watering holes’ around the garden for insects and other creatures to drink from, during lockdown. I made this teeny pool, with a very small stone wall to provide shelter. 

A perennial cornflower with Geranium Kashmir White starting to scramble through.

This particular iris has rather eerie, off beat colouring, which I like - another hit from the £1 shop.

Our little retreat at the end of the garden, which enjoys far reaching views towards the Downs 

I took the opportunity to plant a bog garden in an area under of one of the Lilacs close to the pond, choosing plants which I hope will thrive in the part shade & moist conditions, such as Ligularia, Ferns, Fox gloves, Day Lilies, Bugle, Lamiums,  Bistorta, Marsh Marigolds and Purple Loosestrife. 

A West facing border with Irises, Sweet Rocket and Thalictrum "Black Stocking” 

Jane in the pond to show the pond when it was being built this time last year

Best wishes to all 

Jane and Graham