How can I fill in dangerous garden pond?

lauren565

Hi all,
we have a very large pond in our back garden. My daughter who is nearly 2 fell over the side this morning and scratched all her face. that is it the pond is going. We have 4 kids and its just too dangerous. It is fenced off but this doesnt stop the children climbing. The garden is quite small and it takes up the whole space with no where for the children to play. It is very big about 12 foot by 8 foot, and is made of cement. Very deep. Full of very large fish including goldfish and koi carp. The pond was already here when we moved into this house. Please can anyone advise how to get rid of it? I would idealy like to have a flat cemented surface for the children to be able to play on their bikes, etc. I have about £500 savings that I will happily spend on this if it ensures the children will be safe. Any advise please???? !
Thank you so much !
Lauren

niccy

sell the fish,you may get a good price for the koi
then start to fill it in with non rotting materials earth, bricks etc give it a good ram down every 6-12 inchs and concrete just the last 6 inchs.Shouldn't cost more than £100 at the very most i would have thought.

kazwookie

Sell thefish, talk to the local aquatic centre / garden centre and see if they will buy them off you, put up cards in local shops / small advert in local paper.

Drain the water out, and punch holes in botton of the concrete, so that any more water that collects in there drains out.

Get some hard core, ask local builders, at the local tip, or even the local quarry, put a sign up at the end of your drive/ road 'free clean hardcore wanted'

Once fill with hardcore hire a wacker plate and compact well down, then get mixing and cover and screed off with concrete, allow to set off, THEN allow the kids back on it!

Job done! and get your self a nice cuppa, and relax....:D

takoo

Hi Lauren 562

Assuming that you have no protected species in the pond I suggest

• re-home the koi amd other fish
• transfer tadpoles etc to another pond then:
• either
• 1 make the pond into a bog by filling with stones gravel and like -then plant aquatic species etc - kids could join in seeking suitable plants etc, or
• break up the base to allow drainage from the new surface to the sub-stata - fill with topsoil but leave 3 inches to fill with bark and a sand pit (have cover made for latter - stops cats loo-ing)

Concreting over will create a relatively dangerous surface for a children's play area.

Re-cycle the fence, if possible, as the sides and cover for the sand pit.

Should only be the cost of say 10 bags of bark, and 6 for sand pit and a few brass screws and hinges etc.

Nice project -I may do the same!

Takoo

Pennylane

My friend turned her pond into a lovely big sandpit and her kids absolutely loved it. Her hubby made a plastic cover to go over it when not in use (and to keep cats off at night) and some wooden "covers" which just slid over so the kids could still ride their biks and play with toys when they were not in a sandpit mood or when the weather was not suitable.

bryanb

Presumably you own the property, not rented?

ormus

worth checking with the local quarry.
i bought some rough aggregate for a large driveway some yrs ago. think it was just 50 quid plus delivery charge.
the driver tipped me a few extra tons!
i had give some away and barrow it all over the local estate.