Protecting pond from small children?
Discussion
EdJ said:
We have a pond in our garden and part of it doesn't have any border. I'm worried about the potential risk for young children and my builder has suggested a wooden fence around the pond which I think would look a bit rubbish. Any other ideas?
You could try telling the children not to play near the pond? or maybe watch them when they do?We had a grid in the last house - handmade by OH to take the weight of an adult.
Currently we have a massive pond that is semi fenced in in one corner of the garden. Long term I want to complete the fence - in the interim I just watch like a hawk (and have blocked the hole where the gate goes with a roll of wire)
We also have a well and OH is having to make a cover/grid for that
Currently we have a massive pond that is semi fenced in in one corner of the garden. Long term I want to complete the fence - in the interim I just watch like a hawk (and have blocked the hole where the gate goes with a roll of wire)
We also have a well and OH is having to make a cover/grid for that
We have 2 small ponds at the end of our decking. We didn't envisage having kids but as a result Ive put balustrade up on one side and until recently had a strong netting stretched tight over the deeper pond.
Our son is now 2 1/2, and because we taught him to swim in the hot-tub seems to have a good respect for water in and around the garden.He likes to watch the fish, tadpoles etc but the golden rule is never let them out there unsupervised.
Our son is now 2 1/2, and because we taught him to swim in the hot-tub seems to have a good respect for water in and around the garden.He likes to watch the fish, tadpoles etc but the golden rule is never let them out there unsupervised.
Thanks for the replies.
We want the pond there because the water feature means you don't hear the noise from the road. My little boy is just starting to crawl, but I wouldn't leave him in the garden without watching him, but still, you can't be too careful can you.
Where would I get strong enough mesh to cover the pond?
We want the pond there because the water feature means you don't hear the noise from the road. My little boy is just starting to crawl, but I wouldn't leave him in the garden without watching him, but still, you can't be too careful can you.
Where would I get strong enough mesh to cover the pond?
henrycrun said:
How big is the pond ? when I did this 20 yrs ago I just made a crucifix frame with fence posts and stapled plastic coated wire fence over it
The pond is in two parts - the larger part is quite a bit above ground and surrounded by shrubs so is less of a problem. This leads to the smaller part which is flush with the ground - you could actually step across it, it's that small. Quite deep though, hence the concern. EdJ said:
Where would I get strong enough mesh to cover the pond?
This would do it:http://www.ideas-4-pets.com/galvanised-mesh-full-p...
You can get the mesh on it's own, but usually in massive 25m rolls.
Please whatever you do make sure that you do something.
My partner has a friend who is what most would regard as a very responsible person/parent. Her son was about two and a half when he fell in a very small pond that they had, and they think that he had banged his head. The next door neighbour broke the fence down when he saw the boy in the pond.
The little boy very nearly died, and did suffer fairly extensive brain damage. He has made improvements, but will never have the same quality of life again.
It's really easy to say never leave them unsupervised, but at the end of the day unless you are obsessive there are bound to be opportunities for little one's to get up to mischief.
Needless to say that we had a fence around ours before our daughter was crawling.
My partner has a friend who is what most would regard as a very responsible person/parent. Her son was about two and a half when he fell in a very small pond that they had, and they think that he had banged his head. The next door neighbour broke the fence down when he saw the boy in the pond.
The little boy very nearly died, and did suffer fairly extensive brain damage. He has made improvements, but will never have the same quality of life again.
It's really easy to say never leave them unsupervised, but at the end of the day unless you are obsessive there are bound to be opportunities for little one's to get up to mischief.
Needless to say that we had a fence around ours before our daughter was crawling.
Edited by davidjpowell on Monday 13th July 14:00
davidjpowell said:
Please whatever you do make sure that you do something.
My partner has a friend who is what most would regard as a very responsible person/parent. Her son was about two and a half when he fell in a very small pond that they had, and they think that he had banged his head. The next door neighbour broke the fence down when he saw the boy in the pond.
The little boy very nearly died, and did suffer fairly extensive brain damage. He has made improvements, but will never have the same quality of life again.
It's really easy to say never leave them unsupervised, but at the end of the day unless you are obsessive there are bound to be opportunities for little one's to get up to mischief.
Needless to say that we had a fence around ours before our daughter was crawling.
Quite, responsible or not, you can never have eyes everywhere at all times. My partner has a friend who is what most would regard as a very responsible person/parent. Her son was about two and a half when he fell in a very small pond that they had, and they think that he had banged his head. The next door neighbour broke the fence down when he saw the boy in the pond.
The little boy very nearly died, and did suffer fairly extensive brain damage. He has made improvements, but will never have the same quality of life again.
It's really easy to say never leave them unsupervised, but at the end of the day unless you are obsessive there are bound to be opportunities for little one's to get up to mischief.
Needless to say that we had a fence around ours before our daughter was crawling.
Edited by davidjpowell on Monday 13th July 14:00
Additionally, whilst you can tell your own kids not to go near there, you may find when they have friends over that they may not have a pond in their garden and so be very very curious
I wouldn't want to tell a mother that here kid fell in the pond, and the worst case doesn't bear thinking about.
Only other idea aside from mesh or a grid is to plant a low holly border in front. Tends to keep the small ones away until they are big enough to know better
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