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The Drowning Pond on GW

• Message 1. 

  Posted by giantpoppy (U2362793) on Wednesday, 29th April 2009

  I am very worried about the new pond being made on Gardeners World. It has sloping sides on the outside that will be easy for wildlife or pets to climb up, attracted by the water. If they fall in, the sides are sheer and creatures will drown.It would also be dangerous for children. No mention was made of this issue and I am not impressed that people are being encouraged to build dangerous ponds.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Goldilocks (U2169760) on Wednesday, 29th April 2009

  Very good point! It hadn't occurred to me but you could imagine a cat after fish falling in and exhausting itself trying to clamber out.
  
  And a child could fall in too - stand on a chair or box, overstretch.....

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Wednesday, 29th April 2009

  Are they going to have more children on the programme; put fish in the pond and have a cat as well?

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  This is a huge problem and I think the programme should have covered it in more depth. I have a pondlet in the form of a small well and it didn't occur to me that we would get frogs throwing themselves in it, day in day out. Well OUT was the main problem really because they couldn't get out and when I cleaned we found several dead frogs which were distinctly 'off the bone' by that time.
  This problem was eventually cured when the cats caught and killed every frog within a half mile radius!
  
  That was the next problem though - convinced that there were still frogs in the pond the cats continually stood on the overhanging rim of the pondlet and overstretched falling in. The amount of times I have scooped wet cats out of it!!!
  
  So eventually I put some large stones in to provide little islands for any wildlife that fell in. Now I have 5,000 woodlice clinging to these stones!! What am I supposed to do? The plastic sieve I was using to scoop these critters out eventually broke and I can't find a new one unless I buy a set of 3 which seems excessive.
  
  I would have welcomed more advice on GW as to how to deal with these problems. Perhaps they will get to it in the next episode.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Every single pond I've ever seen built on GW or Ground Force or any other gardening programme or in books or magazines has come with advice about having an escape route for critters such as frogs and toads who are amphibuous so need solid ground as well as water and can drown just as easily as hedgehogs, cats, dogs, children......
  
  There is some sloppy thinking going on here which is less than edifying, coming as it does, from supposedly professional gardeners and programme makers.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Piggin (U4839534) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Health and safety seems to be an avoided topic in the current series. Did anyone else notice Toby throw his rake down onto the ground when he had finished seed sowing? Black eye anyone?

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Carmen Tothegardenmaude,
  "Good grief" I cannot wait for your next episode on your pond it is far more interesting and exciting than anything on TV right now.
  Frog eating cats? and probably lurking in the pond an SAS squad of frogs and woodlice who will overwhelm the cats in a commando raid, bring it on.
  I did mention in a posting on the official GW Friday site that no mention was made of children or animal safety for what to me and many others was a very dangerous set up. Collapsing slate walls because they packed them with soil and slate has razor edges. No mention of how inquisitive animals will get out and any plants put in there will drown.
  Since that site has gone down the path of "Conspiracy theories" there is no point on continuing on there.
  This is a serious mistake on someones part and they should make sure it is put right on the next programme.
  Come on Tobi you can do better than this, meanwhile down at Carmens pond:----?
  Frank.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Hi Piggin
  
  Toby has a habit of mistreating his tool. Was it his trowel he threw into the ground in the last series. Not that I'm any better but then I'm not doing a TV programme.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by Piggin (U4839534) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  The problem with the rake though Carmen is not tool abuse but someone stepping on it and giving themselves a shiner. Dangerous things rakes. Never mind, if we see him with a black eye on the next show, we'll know where it's come from.
  
  Whatever happened to "leading by example"?

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• Message 10

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  Posted by toonia (U4760062) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Maybe he'll trip up his rake and land head first in the drowning pool.
  
  Don't try this at home children, Toby has special powers.

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Madonplants (U5524817) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Why this couldn't have gone on the other pond thread I don't know! My two boys (one 8 and one 14) have always had a pond, but have been brought up to 'respect' water and the dangers it gives. Good grief, hide eyes now, but all their lives, they have had boating holidays, either on The Broads or canals. Yep and they've alway worn life jackets. I also get cats in the garden (when our dog doesn't chase them out, that is) and never had an accident yet. I can't see frogs, toads wanting to climb up to get in, so no worries there. Saying all this, I am not fully happy with Toby's pond (that's Toby, not Tobi or Tony as I've seen!!) and am sure (well hope) he will do more to it later on. I'm hoping he's doing the right thing, though he didn't say, in leaving it while the chlorine escapes from the water, but only time will tell. I am convinced it will have goldfish in, with maybe some oxygenating plant and a water lily. Maybe even some marginals, placed on milk crates, you never know! Knowing GW, they will be in/on floating planters! I would much rather Toby had done a wildlife pond, incorporating a nice beach area, rather than this poor excuse of a water feature. Didn't Joe remark on naff WF's in an earlier episode? In my view, the water feature, pr whatever you call it, gets about 2 out of 10 and I think I'm being generous there!
  
  Sorry rant over with.

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• Message 12

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  Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Mad - I think the other pond thread turned into a rather interesting discussion about extreme stonewalling.
  
  You say...
  
  I am convinced it will have goldfish in.. 
  
  how does this happen? Do they just turn up like the frogs do. Does it come in jelly like frogspawn?
  I was wondering if a passing heron might have caught some of spawn on its feet and then transfer it to the pond.
  
  I was more interested in whether it is possible to keep these ponds clear without the use of oxygenating plants or pumped systems to clear the water.

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by ArtemisHP (U12217956) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  Maybe he'll trip up his rake and land head first in the drowning pool. 
  
  Now, now, Toonia. Charity, please!
  
  

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 13.

  Posted by moderator (U2305248) on Thursday, 30th April 2009

  There'already a thread about the pond feature. Please post any (sensible) comments here:
  Thanks G-host

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