Location: Lanivet, Cornwall
Client: Private landowner
Services: Wildlife pond installation, pond excavation, liner installation, native pond planting, orchard habitat creation
Project length: 2 days

Client Brief

This was a smaller wildlife pond project for a private landowner near Lanivet.

The site was originally a ryegrass field with very little habitat variety. The landowner’s wider plan was to create an orchard, but they wanted to start by adding a pond to bring water, wildlife and a bit more ecological value into what was otherwise a fairly uniform piece of ground.

That is often where a wildlife pond can make a real difference. It does not need to be huge or overcomplicated. In the right place, even a modest pond can quickly change how a site feels and how much life it supports.

THRC Solution

Setting the Pond Into the Slope

The pond was approximately 5m x 5m and was positioned part-way down a hill, with the new orchard planted above it.

We marked out the pond where the client wanted it, then used a 3-tonne excavator to strip the turf and begin shaping the excavation. As we dug, the loose soil was placed downhill to help form a small berm and level the pond into the slope.

The deeper centre was excavated carefully, with the subsoil kept separate from the topsoil. That detail matters on pond work. Topsoil is usually too nutrient-rich and can encourage algae and poor water quality. Subsoil is lower in nutrients, which makes it much better for aquatic plants and for keeping the pond more balanced as it establishes.

 

Liner, Protection and Native Planting

Once the shape and depth were right, we removed stones and sharp material from the excavation to reduce the risk of puncturing the liner.

The pond was then lined with protective underlay, pond liner and overlay. After that, the saved subsoil was placed back over the liner to create a more natural pond bed and give the plants something suitable to root into.

The pond was filled carefully using a hose and bucket to stop the water pressure eroding the newly placed soil. Once full, it was left to settle for 24 to 48 hours before planting, allowing the water to stabilise.

We then planted native pond plants around the pond to help it establish properly and start providing value for wildlife from the beginning. The planting was intended to give structure, cover and seasonal interest, while also helping the pond feel settled into the wider orchard landscape.

End Result

Why It Matters

The aim of this project was not just to create an attractive pond. It was to help the landowner begin changing a simple ryegrass field into a more varied, living landscape.

The orchard has now been planted, and the pond sits as an important part of that system. It will provide habitat for insects, amphibians, birds and native pond plants, while also supporting natural pest predators such as frogs, beetles and birds.

That can make a real difference in an orchard setting. A good pond helps bring in more life, and more life usually means a healthier, more balanced piece of land.

For THRC, this was a straightforward but worthwhile example of wildlife pond creation in Cornwall: a small intervention, properly built, with a clear purpose behind it.

 

Services Included

  • Wildlife pond installation
  • Pond excavation
  • Pond liner installation
  • Underlay and overlay protection
  • Subsoil pond bed creation
  • Native pond planting
  • Habitat creation
  • Orchard habitat support
  • Biodiversity improvement
  • Small-scale land management