Andy Hamilton and his daughter get batty about ponds and explore the local area on one of their regular nature walks
"We're going out the back way,” I shout as I slide open the patio door. My daughter comes running from the front. We are in a rush, it will be dusk soon - the time of day loved by the long awaited spring visitors to our garden. From April onward we always take a moment to look at the pond first, mostly checking for frogs. The pond sits a few feet away from the back door. We dug it about three years ago. Well, let’s be honest. I first started to dig it four years ago and it became another half-finished job. Then my partner, Emma, grew tired of my procrastination and finished it off. We lined it and before we filled it my daughter insisted we should sit in it. “We’ll never get the chance again”.
My daughter and I climbed in and lay down, reclining against the sloping side, which is designed to make entry for frogs much easier.
As we lay there our conversation drifted onto our hopes for the pond after we filled it with water instead of ourselves. We both agreed that it would be nice to see a frog. A moment later I felt something move beneath the liner, near my leg. I leapt out and gently peeled back the liner to find two frogs frantically trying to hop away from me. I carefully lifted my daughter out so we didn’t disturb our most welcome guests. Over the next few months the whereabouts of our amphibious friends became the highlight of the day (for me at least). The pond has been a great source for birds, mammals and frogs ever since.
