Can you build a functional pond using only local clay and no liner?
In short: Charles Dowding documents the initial construction of a large, natural pond at Homeacres. By utilizing the site's native clay subsoil, the project aims to create a water-holding basin without synthetic liners, relying on manual compaction and rainfall to establish the ecosystem.
The project began in early January when a digger excavated a hole 1.8 meters deep. The team attempted to seal the basin by 'puddling'—a process of squashing the clay to make it impermeable. While initial rainfall of 30 mm provided a promising start, subsequent dry weather revealed a potential leak, forcing the team to manually re-compact the clay in February when water levels dropped to one-third capacity.
Dowding notes that the process has proven more complex than anticipated, particularly due to the lack of a permanent water source. While the team hopes to avoid using a synthetic liner, the long-term viability of the pond remains a work in progress, with future updates planned to cover plantings and water maintenance strategies.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Large All Natural Pond, start to end of first stage
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