Ponds are a great way of adding an extra dimension to a garden, and they can also be a great focal point for children and get them interested in the natural world at an early age.
Ponds are a great way of adding an extra dimension to a garden, and they can also be a great focal point for children, getting them interested in the natural world at an early age. On the flip side however, particularly for young children, they can be a very real hazard. The cohabitation of children and ponds therefore does need to be carefully managed.
Worryingly, drowning is the third most common cause for accidental deaths of children aged 5 and under in the home. According to Government reports, during the 10 year period from 2000-2010 over 100 children died from drowning. Interestingly however roughly 80% of these were not in their own homes but those of their friends and neighbours. The obvious answer to eliminating this threat is to simply fill the pond in, however we believe the positive benefits far outweigh the negatives so long as the situation is addressed properly.
Why not take a look at the possible suggestions below?
Physical Barrier
The best way to stop a young child falling in a pond is to keep them away from it altogether as, no matter how vigilant the parents or guardians are, they will undoubtedly not be able to watch the children for every waking second and a child's inquisitive mind can get them into dangerous situations. To create a physical barrier to the pond you can fence the area surrounding the pond and stop the children from getting near the edge or you can create a physical barrier at the ponds edge. The idea of putting a fence around the pond may not be possible for a lot of people simply due to the size of their garden however it does have the added advantage that it leaves your pond and surrounding pond design intact and should not affect the aesthetics of the installation.
A more common approach is to us a metal grid that, although not the nicest thing to fall on, does remove the possibility of the child falling in altogether. The only drawback of this approach that it essentially negates the real reason for installing the pond in the first place, which was presumably an aesthetic one.
When using this method it is important to ensure the grid used is strong enough to comfortably take an adults weight. Specialist products do exist on the market but can be quite expensive. Unfortunately, although chicken wire may be useful for stopping predators getting in, it will be of no use in this situation. After the grid has been installed it is important to ensure it is securely fastened down and regular checks must be done to ensure it is not suffering from any damage, wear or tear.
Hidden Reservoir
If you simply want the sound and look of moving water in the garden, but really do not want to expose children to any possible danger that a deep pond may provide, don't panic - there are alternatives. The best one being a simple pebble fountain. This uses a buried and hidden water reservoir covered by a metal grid; large pebbles on top and a pump that pumps water out through the middle of the pebbles which then falls and cascades down though the pebbles back into the reservoir.
Whatever you decide to do we certainly hope that you find a way to combine the magic of children and water in a safe and enjoyable way.