15 steps to a large garden pond: Part 1 - Bring out the mattock!

It's now six months since I started work on my most ambitious pond ever. I've almost finished tidying the edging so I thought it was nigh time that I revealed progress so far.

Here's the first half of what I believe these days would be called 'a journey'!

1. This was the view from the house before work began. The Handkerchief Tree centre left was cut to a tall stump as it was threatening the house; a couple of small trees and shrubs centre right had to go to make way for the pond.

2. The pond would be based around an abandoned 1970s swimming pool, the bottom of which would form the deeper area around which I'd create extensive shallows.

3. So bring out the mattock! The swimming pool had been built on a mound and edged with thick concrete blocks and tons of gravel so all that would need to go.

4. The fibreglass top half of the swimming pool had to be cut out with an electric saw and full body protection. I stewed in that, I can tell you!

5. In total, I estimate the two of us moved about 30 tons of earth, 10 tons of shingle and 10 tons of concrete blocks by hand. It looked a right state!

6. Gradually the gentle topography of shallow shelves took shape, all within a margin carefully adjusted with spirit levels.

7. Once I was happy with the shape, I added a layer of sand to smooth out the contours and provide a base layer of protection for the liner.

8.The edging was done to a method recommended by Sue Camm in Devon using gravel boards - you may remember her glorious pond from Nature's Home magazine.

All very well, but this had taken from July until November, full slog in any spare time from work. Would it prove to be worth it? Tune in next week for the moment of truth!