converting pond to children play sand area

xyz123

hi

we have a smallish pond in back garden, about 3.5 m by 2.5m. it was done by previous owner and has filters with suction at bottom. i am not 100% sure but pretty sure that side walls are lined and not concrete.

we have struggled to keep pond filter clean with a little one in house and other things going on. plus with little one in garden we obviously cant leave pond as it is. if we cover it, i might as well get rid of it for now. plus this year we have lots of frogs.

how can i convert this into the children playsand area. what sort of drainage i need at bottom and sides? ideally i would like to keep it such that the suction pipes at bottom and sides are somehow covered and protected in case we ever want to have pond back in future.

ta

wallbash

As a pond owner, would suggest an alternative,drain water.
Fill pond with bags/sacks of........sand/earth
Buy a cheap plastic sand pit and stick it into partially filled hole.

The area would be 100% safe, but when required , removing sand pit, then the bags would allow the pond to be reinstated.

plus this year we have lots of frogs.

Frogs have had it very easy this winter.

xyz123

wallbash wrote: »

As a pond owner, would suggest an alternative,drain water.
Fill pond with bags/sacks of........sand/earth
Buy a cheap plastic sand pit and stick it into partially filled hole.

The area would be 100% safe, but when required , removing sand pit, then the bags would allow the pond to be reinstated.




Frogs have had it very easy this winter.

thanks. good point. any idea re drainage?

wallbash

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIDS-WOODEN-GARDEN-HEXAGONAL-1-5M-SAND-PIT-SANDBOX-SANDPIT-PVC-COVER-NEW/120950949054?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D5349065110040344075%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20140122125356%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400668301136&rt=nc


As for drainage , don't go there, you would damage the future pond.
The only ingress of water would be via the gap between pit and side of old pond.

The link is an idea, does look good.

xyz123

wallbash wrote: »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIDS-WOODEN-GARDEN-HEXAGONAL-1-5M-SAND-PIT-SANDBOX-SANDPIT-PVC-COVER-NEW/120950949054?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D5349065110040344075%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20140122125356%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400668301136&rt=nc


As for drainage , don't go there, you would damage the future pond.
The only ingress of water would be via the gap between pit and side of old pond.

The link is an idea, does look good.

thanks.

but that means i need to find a sandpit which is same shape and size as the pond!

wallbash

xyz123 wrote: »

thanks.

but that means i need to find a sandpit which is same shape and size as the pond!

No that would be impossible, just find the largest that would fit, and fit a few paving slabs to cover the gap.

Newly_retired

We have recently moved into a house with a tiny pond and it is now full og frogs. It is just outside the patio door so can't leave it open in this lovely spring weather as I don't want them in the house.
We do not have small children so the sandpit idea is no use to us. Ideally we would like to drain it and turn it back to garden. Any ideas how to do this?

xyz123

wallbash wrote: »

No that would be impossible, just find the largest that would fit, and fit a few paving slabs to cover the gap.

Thanks. Sorry for asking again but what would the paving slabs "fix" on? Bags of soil?

wallbash

xyz123 wrote: »

Thanks. Sorry for asking again but what would the paving slabs "fix" on? Bags of soil?

I would surround the sandpit with landscape weed fabric , then some sand , paving on top. The slabs are not going to take any real weight and our aim is to reinstall pond at some future date and in the mean time keep the cost down.

lojzina

Hi I need to purchase silica and tremolite free play sand for my son's new sand pit, can anyone recommend a reliable company? Thanks