Garden ponds
Garden ponds are great! They're nice to look at, good for wildlife... Unfortunately they're not so good for young children. In fact, garden ponds are involved in more than half of all toddler drownings.
On average, 5 under-6s drown every year in garden ponds in the UK
No matter how hard you try, it's difficult to always know exactly where your child is, and drowning often occurs while a parent or carer assumes their child is safe.
Fortunately, there are a number of easy options you can take to give you peace of mind and keep your little ones bouncing. In fact, it's as easy as 1,2,3.
Grille it!
Covering your pond is a good option for some people – you just need to make sure you use a rigid metal grille rather than flimsy chicken wire. Don't forget to check it regularly to make sure it's up to the job of keeping young children out of the water.
Fence it!
Another good option, although it can sometimes give you a false sense of security – particularly as most young children are excellent climbers! If you do choose a fence, make sure it's at least 1.1m and that access points such as gates are kept locked.
Fill it!
There are some great options for transforming your pond into something else while the little ones are young, such as a flowerbed or even a sandpit.
Get in touch! Why not send us a photo of your garden pond conversions? We'll share the most inventive designs.
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