By Linda Sijpkes
During our Saturday open day in April, President of Frogs Victoria, David De Angelis generously donated his time to teach staff, volunteers and friends of Cardinia Environment Coalition how to build a pond.
The hole for the pond was dug prior to the day by some of our fabulous volunteers, on the day the hard work continued with particants assisting with lining the pond with sand, pond liner and rocks.
The group also learnt about aquatic and semi aquatic plants and how to add them to the pond.
The workshop also grabbed the attention of the local media and Afaa Kori wrote a great article that you can read here: https://pakenhamgazette.com.au/news/2025-05-02/new-pond-new-life/
View pictures of the day in the gallery below
If you missed the workshop Vivien Clarke took lots of notes on the day which we have shared below
Notes from David De Angelis’s visit to the CEC nursery to build a frog pond
26th April 2025
- It is good to dig a variety of depths in your pond, so the frogs can regulate their body temperatures as they move between the various levels;
- Most fish are predators and will eat the tadpoles except the Australian smelt;
- It is good to have a depth of 50-60 centimetres up one each of the pond and gently slope the pond to offer maximum benefit for the frogs;
- Use a plastic liner that is frog safe and not likely to puncture (ours came from Garden world);
- Before you place your liner ensure no sticks or stones will be underneath the liner and put a layer of washed concrete sand beneath the liner to protect it;
- Fill the pond with tap water – the chlorine etc will dissipate;
- Tree frogs need a structure above the ground. You could create an artificial structure beside the pond with terracotta pipes;
- There is no minimum size for a pond – a smaller area will attract less frogs;
- Get the creases out of the liner and cover the liner with river stones;
- We had 7 large rocks (some submerged and others on the edge) for perching adult frogs and hiding spots for adult frogs and tadpoles;
- Install some large branches in the water to provide perching for the frogs and additional cover for the tadpoles. Rotting wood will provide habitat for insects for the frogs;
- Submerged plants are important to provide cover and also a place for eggs to be laid;
- Ribbon\Eel Weed (Vallisneria australis) Blunt Pondweed (Potamogeton ochreatus), Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) Swamp Lily (Ottelia ovalifolia are suitable plants for your submerged plants;
- Poas and Dianellas are great plants to plant on the edge of the pond once the liner is cut at the rocks;
- Ensure that only half of the surface your pond is planted out as it is important for the pond to get sunlight directly on the water;
- You can put plants in pots and put gravel on top of the pot to stop the soil escaping or fill a large hessian bag with soil (not containing organic matter or fertiliser or you will encourage algae) and make small holes with a knife and plant into these;
- Remember pygmy perch and galaxias will eat tadpoles;
- Mosquitoes are discouraged with the tadpoles turning the water over;
- A strong pump is not a good idea. A small solar pump up one end of the pond may work. Once the pond starts working – algae will not be an issue as aquatic bugs will filter the water;
- Chytrid fungus is a problem for frogs. Discouraging it by having half of your water open and encouraging sunlight will help;
Vivien Clarke
CEC Nursery