Garden Pond Design and Installation in Norfolk and Suffolk
Wildlife and ornamental ponds across Norfolk and Suffolk
Hilton & Green Landscaping builds garden ponds across Norfolk and Suffolk, from simple wildlife ponds to formal ponds with pumps, filters and stone edging, and reshapes and relines old ones.
Within a season of being built, a pond fills with life: frogs, newts, water insects, and birds coming to drink and bathe. We design each one to suit the space, and handle the whole job ourselves, from the dig and the liner to the edging, the planting and filling it.
Where a pond is already there but leaking, overgrown or the wrong shape, we can lift it back out, reshape it and put in a new liner rather than starting somewhere else.
What's included
- Pond siting and design consultation
- Excavation including planting shelves
- Butyl liner installation with underlay
- Coping stones and edging
- Pump and filter fitting where required
- Marginal and oxygenating planting
- Filling and initial water treatment advice
How we work
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Design and siting
Siting matters more than most people think. Avoid putting a pond directly under deciduous trees unless you are prepared for leaf clearance work. A mix of sun and shade is ideal. We discuss size, depth and style.
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Excavation
We dig the pond to the agreed design, including planting shelves at the right depths for different marginal plants.
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Liner and edging
We lay a protective underlay before the butyl liner, then bring the liner up over the edges and secure it under coping stones or turf.
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Equipment installation
For ornamental ponds, we install the pump and filter, run pipework and cable, and test everything before filling.
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Planting and filling
Marginal and oxygenating plants are installed before the pond is filled. We advise on treating tap water and the time needed for the pond to mature biologically.
Liners, pre-formed ponds and pumps
A butyl rubber liner is the right choice for most ponds. It is flexible, can follow any shape and will last 20 to 30 years if it is laid on an underlay and the edges are kept out of the sun. Pre-formed ponds are quicker to put in and fine for standard shapes, but they limit the design and the small ones overheat in summer.
A wildlife pond does not need a pump or filter, which keeps the build and running costs down; the water clears once the oxygenating plants take hold. A pond with fish needs filtration to keep the water healthy, and the pump has to be sized to the volume of water.
Building a pond for wildlife
A wildlife pond needs at least one gently sloping edge, so frogs, hedgehogs and birds can get in and out, and a range of depths for different plants. Planting around the edge gives cover for anything leaving the water. Fish and wildlife do not mix well, because fish eat tadpoles and insect larvae.
Fill it with rainwater if you can. Tap water carries nutrients that feed algae, which is why a new pond often turns green before it settles. If tap water is all there is, let the pond stand for a while before planting and expect it to take a season to clear.
If small children use the garden, a pond needs thinking about. A strong mesh fixed just under the surface, or a fenced area, are the usual answers, and it is better planned in from the start.
What affects the cost of a pond
Size and depth set the dig and the size of liner. Edging is the next variable: turf or planting to the edge costs less than stone coping. A pump, filter and the cable run to power them add to a formal or fish pond, and a wildlife pond needs none of them.
Access for digging and taking the spoil away counts too, and so does what comes out of the hole. Plenty of Norfolk gardens are clay a spade below the surface.
We price every job after seeing it, and the visit and quote are free.
Common questions
Have a question not answered here? Get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Should I have a wildlife pond or a fish pond?
Decide first, because they are built differently. A wildlife pond has sloping edges and no pump; a fish pond needs depth, filtration and a pump sized to the water.
How long does it take to build a pond?
Usually a few days to a week, depending on the size, the edging and whether there is a pump and filter to fit.
Does a wildlife pond need a pump?
No. Once the oxygenating plants are established the water clears on its own.
Can you reline an old pond?
Yes. We can empty an old pond, reshape it if needed and put in a new underlay and liner.
Why has my new pond gone green?
Algae, fed by nutrients in tap water and plenty of sun. It usually settles once the plants are established, and shade from marginal planting helps.
Do I need planning permission for a garden pond?
Not normally. At a listed building, check with the council first.
Get a free pond design consultation
Free, no-obligation quotes. We cover Norfolk and Suffolk.
In our customers' words
Genuine reviews from clients across Norfolk and Suffolk
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★★★★★
Ben and Ed at Hilton & Green have done amazing and difficult landscaping jobs for me in the past few years, from erecting a fence close to the house in a challenging setting, to a transformational soft landscaping project at the rear of the sloping garden. The guys are very professional and the results are stunning. I highly recommend Hilton & Green for your landscaping requirements.
George Smithon Google
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★★★★★
Hilton and Green Landscaping have done wonders to our driveway and fencing. Their work is competent and professional. They are both very friendly and knowledgeable in how to make your ideas practical.
Scott Leamonon Google
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★★★★★
We are so pleased we found Ben and Edd to put in our new patio. They have done an awesome job. They are two of the nicest people we have met and their work is exemplary. From start to finish the guys were brilliant at their work and the end result is awesome. Would highly recommend Hilton and Green to everyone. Two thumbs up for excellent work!
Su Eyleson Google
We build ponds across Norfolk and Suffolk. Most of our work is in and around Norwich, Long Stratton, Diss and Wymondham, and we travel further for the right job.