Pond predators

After you've taken the trouble to stock your pond with fish, or encourage lots of frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies, the arrival of a voracious predator to gobble them all up again is both upsetting and infuriating.

Grey herons are among the worst offenders: once a heron finds your pond you can lose your fish, and your frogs, in a single night. Cats looking for a quick snack, foxes and even dogs wanting a swim can also be devastating to the life in your pond.

Netting is a quick and easy way to protect your pondlife - sturdy pond netting is available on the roll or in handy packs in our garden centre. However it's sometimes not practical, especially if you have mature pond plants.

In this case a fence of canes strung with netting or fishing line around the edge keeps most things away. Herons are also put off by tinfoil plates hung off canes to flash and clatter in the wind.

There are also high-tech options available in our garden centre, from trip-wire activated scarers to audio devices or water jets triggered by motion sensors.

Please ask the staff in our garden centre for more information and advice about keeping your pond safe from predators.