Cold Water Installations
Is there anything more relaxing than sitting in your own garden with a drink and listening to the gentle sound of running water? Nowadays we all seem to spend our time rushing from one thing to the next. The time we do have to sit and relax is special and should be cherished.

Heritage Aquatics can design and install any size of pond or water feature. Koi ponds can be particularly spectacular such as the one featured below which is situated within our grounds.

For further information on the range of garden and outdoor water-based services offered by our sister company Heritage Landscapes, please feel free to visit www.heritage-landscapes.net

Natural Koi Pond

This pond is a huge 60' x 30' x 6' deep at the deepest point. The koi that now live within it range from 4" to 39". It has a wooden veranda leading off the side with table and chairs for enjoyment of evening drinks on a hot summers day! It is filtered using an environmentally friendly reed-bed filter. The reeds here are varied but include the beautiful bull rushes and stand up to 8' tall in the height of the season. They do their job by stripping the water of the debris as the water flows from the main pond area, over the reed-bed then to be re-circulated back into the pond. It is overflowing with water-based and marginal plant life. The butyl liner is held in place with timber sleepers for a natural feel.

Wildlife Ponds

A well designed wildlife pond will attract a wide range of native animals into your garden enabling reproduction and the chance for species to survive and even thrive. There are many benefits to gardens and gardeners such as frogs and toads eat slugs and snails, dragon flies like a tasty mosquito and other insects and garden birds will fly in to bathe and drink.

Small animals will enjoy a shallow area that warms quickly although other creatures such as toads prefer deeper ponds.

Native plants are important to a wildlife pond and are readily available from Heritage Aquatics - see our plant section for more details. As well as being immensely attractive they will provide the correct habitat for many creatures and insects.

Reed Bed Filters

	Advantages of Reed Beds Low initial and ongoing costs Very low maintenance required No operational noise Can easily withstand 'shock' loading Creates a valuable habitat for a host of wildlife Is aesthetically pleasing - in fact can be beautiful Reed beds are a priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Reed bed systems are designed to utilise the natural microbiological and physical processes that occur in a wetland ecosystem. In order to thrive in waterlogged conditions, reeds transfer atmospheric oxygen down through their roots creating aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the soil. A great diversiity of microbial bacteria and funghi can develop in this environment which naturally break down a wide range of chemical and organic pollutants, degrading them into natural harmless material. Thus the root zone of a reed bed has an amazing ability to treat water contamination. Water passing through a reed bed is channelled around the extensive rhizome structure of the plants, it is treated by the action of the micro-organisms and the plants take up nutrients and contaminants, including heavy metals into their stems and leaves.

Suitable Reed Bed Plants
Typha Latifolia (Greater Reedmace)	Reedmace is distinguished by the familiar brown 'pokers' of the seed heads. Growing to a height of 1800mm, it is a tough and resiliant plant. It is often wrongly referred to as bulrush. It forms excellent dense root mats for water filtration and makes banks resistant to erosion.
Typha Angustifolia (Lesser Reedmace)	As above but growing to 1200mm with a more slender look. Both Greater and Lesser provide good habitat for wildlife with the roots often used by spawning fish.
Carex Riparia Greater Pond Sedge	Sedges are tough grass-like perrenials adaptable to fluctuating water depths. They also produce excellent root mats and attractive seed heads in the Summer. Historically, their tough, pliable stems were often used as binding material.
Carex Acutiformis (Lesser Pond Sedge)	As above
Scirpus Lacustris (Bull Rush)	This true bulrush is a hardy vigorous plant, useful for natural planting and wildlife ponds. This rush is adaptable to moist soil or shallow flooded conditions. Historically it has and still is used for thatching and furniture making!
Iris Pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)	The Iris is a robust plant tolerant of varying water levels. It produces a profusion of lovely flowers and strong green foliage - excellent for reed beds and conservation projects.
Sparganium Erectum (Branched Burr-Reed)	The branched burr-reed is a tall aquatic plant with broad, sword-like leaves. The fruits are attractive multi-spiked burrs. It forms good root systems for filtration and provides a favourable habitat for wildlife.

We are always very happy to discuss any aspect of pond design and construction with on-site visits often available. Please call the office for more details.