Are you planning a Swim pond?

The Kings Cross swimming pond was built in 2015 & since then, popularity has increased.(image from telegraph.co.uk). Kate O'Brien wrote a piece originally in the FT Weekend House and Home supplement in 2015 and mentioned us as a source for aquatic plants. That natural swimming pond is still a huge success today and has matured well.

You can build a swim pond & recreate this feature in your own garden:

Using plants in the pond to keep the water clear can be achieved on a garden scale too.

• A natural swimming pool fits into your garden design and planted landscape better than the previously popular chemically controlled pool.
• Old-style concrete swimming pools were not landscaped to blend into the garden space.
• People are turning away from the use of chlorine in their pool water.

The planting in natural swim ponds cleans the water:

• A successful swim pond requires sufficient biological filtration from plants.
• Densely plant a good range of aquatic plants – waterlilies, shallow marginals, deep marginals and waterside species.
• This planted area should occupy at least 50% of your total water area.
• It is good to use indigenous plants as they are adapted to our climate and grow vigorously.
• But also use ornamental varieties too.
• These will increase the range of colour and flower type and extend the season of growth and interest.
• They also extend the period of active nutrient usage in the swim pond's planted area - often referred to as the regeneration zone.
• Plants help control blanketweed and algae in the water by using the nutrients in the water and covering the water surface.

Best filtration plants:

• Some plants use more nutrients than others to help bring good water quality.
• Very good are:  Butomus umbellatus  Carex acutiformis  Cyperus longus  Iris pseudacorus  Iris Louisiana Black Gamecock  Lythrum salicaria  Mentha aquatica  Myosotis scorpioides  Pontederia cordata lancifolia Typha minima
• And waterlilies Nymphaea alba Nymphaea Attraction Nymphaea Gladstoniana Nymphaea Marliacaea Carnea
• Plant the regeneration zone with plants that filter the water well but whose roots support the beneficial microorganisms that keep the water clear.
• The pond plants' root surfaces create the right conditions for the growth of beneficial bacteria.
• Useful micro-organisms like water fleas also thrive alongside the bacterial colonies in the roots.
• To include good nutrient-use plants - see our Tips and Advice page for Swimming ponds.
• Or, look at the template in our Planting Scheme for Swimming Pond that we can customise to suit your requirements.

Other benefits of a swim pond:

• There is no input of chlorine or other chemicals.
• This is better for your hair, skin, eyes and general health.
• The experience of swimming in a pool managed this way will bring you closer to nature.

A healthy swimming area for you and a wildlife haven too - all in one area of your own garden.