Large Pond Build

Large wildlife pond construction near Yelverton, Devon

A 300,000-litre pond shaped for wildlife, landscape and family use

This project transformed an open area of an award-winning Devon property into a substantial, wildlife-rich waterscape. The completed pond measures approximately 30m × 22m, reaches depths of up to 1.7m and holds more than 300,000 litres of water. A 35m stream travels through three smaller ponds before returning to the main waterbody, creating movement, sound and valuable connected habitat.

The client brief

The client wanted a naturalistic centrepiece that felt part of the wider landscape rather than a conventional garden pond. It needed to create diverse habitat, bring water movement into the site and provide space that the family could also enjoy as a natural swimming pond.

• Create a substantial water feature appropriate to the scale of the property
• Support amphibians, invertebrates, birds and other visiting wildlife
• Use streams and waterfalls to add oxygenation, movement and sound
• Combine deeper water, shelves and shallow margins for varied habitat
• Allow the surrounding planting and wildflower areas to mature naturally

Design and construction approach

Excavation and landform

The pond was carefully excavated and shaped with deep zones, broad planting shelves and accessible shallow margins. The landform was designed as part of the wider garden, giving the finished waterbody a natural outline and room for different habitats to develop.

Lining, drainage and plumbing

Protective underlay and a robust pond liner created the water-retaining structure. Bottom drains and associated plumbing were installed to support long-term water management and make accumulated material easier to remove.

Stone, timber and planting

Granite, pebbles and bogwood softened the margins and helped the construction sit convincingly within the landscape. Marginal and deep-water plants were introduced alongside surrounding wildflower meadow areas, providing structure while leaving space for the habitat to evolve.

The result: a connected, wildlife-rich waterscape

The main pond, smaller pools, stream and meadow now work as one landscape. Within the first season, the new habitat was already attracting dragonflies and damselflies, amphibians, visiting birds and pollinators. The deeper water and broad scale also created a tranquil place for the family to swim and spend time beside the water.

• A large permanent waterbody with varied depths and margins
• Connected pools and flowing water that increase habitat diversity
• Planting and meadow areas that continue to mature with the site
• Infrastructure designed for practical long-term water management
• A landscape feature that combines biodiversity with family enjoyment

Planning a substantial pond or water-led landscape?

SAS Aquatics designs and delivers larger wildlife ponds, natural swimming ponds, wetlands and lake restoration projects across Devon and Cornwall. We can help turn an initial idea into a practical, buildable scheme shaped around land, water, access and long-term objectives.