KEEP POND WATER CLEAN

1. If the water is not clear and clean, try immersing barley straw into it (you can buy it in sachets), which should clear it after around six weeks and help reduce algae. Introducing water snails may also help.

2. Remove dying foliage of oxygenating plants in autumn, before it sinks to the bottom, as the gases which are released when it rots may be harmful to pond life.

3. Remove thick strands of blanket weed by hand, or with a net, or by twisting them around a brush shaft. Never use a sharp implement such as a rake, which could pierce the pond liner.