You've decided how you want your pond to look, now you need to decide where you want it to go. A pond site should be as suitable as it is aesthetically pleasing. There are a few factors you will need to consider when choosing the best location for your pond.

• Views -  Usually a garden pond is situated fairly close to the house so that it can be viewed from the windows. It may be that your garden has a patio or summer house away from the main house, in which case you may choose to situate the pond away from the home to be viewed better from these areas.


• Access – When your pond has been constructed, access to all areas of the pond for regular maintenance kit is vital, this includes any external Filters. When the pond is built, all areas of your garden should also be easily reached, consider lawn mowers, wheel barrows, etc. A path leading to the pond will benefit access and encourage you to visit more often.
  
  
• Underground Pipes – Check for utilities and service pipes running across the site of the pond. Sewerage pipes can be expensive to divert, gas and electric pipes even more so.
  
  
• Sunlight – Although sunlight is beneficial for a natural balance, you should locate your pond somewhere where it is partially shaded. Pond plants need the sun to establish and thrive, but too much sunlight will encourage the growth of unsightly algae nets. Ideally the pond should receive about 5 hours of sunlight a day. Tall plants or a pergola can provide shade to the pond while making it look good.
  
  
• Wind – The pond site should be well protected from prevailing winds. Many pond plants can be damaged or blown over in strong winds. The running of fountains and spitting features can also be affected in a bad wind.
  
  
• Trees – Although a willow leaning into a pond creates a striking vision, overhanging trees should be avoided when locating your garden pond. Tree roots may penetrate the pond foundations, over time these can puncture liners or crack concrete bases. Also, leaves, needles, fruit and twigs falling into the pond will put extra strain on the pond’s filtration system. Some trees and plants have toxic or poisonous foliage or berries, for example, laburnum and laurel both have toxic seeds and leaves.
  
  
• Electrical Supply – Keeping a pond filtered requires an electrical supply. It can increase your costs if a lengthy underground power supply is required. Building near your house, or a garage or shed with an existing supply is always helpful.
  
  
• Boggy Areas – Building the pond in an area prone to becoming waterlogged, can become problematic. Water collecting under a liner will cause a ballooning effect inside the pond as the liner is pushed out. Runoff from rainwater which has fallen on the rest of the garden collects in sunken ponds situated in lower-lying areas. This runoff water may contain grass cuttings, dirt, fertilizers or pesticides which may pollute the pond water and ruin the Test Kit
  
  
• Planning Permission – Planning permission isn’t usually an issue when building a garden pond. Planning permission is required if the use of the land will change, but a pond in a garden will not affect the garden’s residential status. The local planning authority would need to be contacted if the pond affected; highways, archaeological sites, flood-plains, important wildlife, or increase the risk of bird strikes in airport flight paths!