Mickfield Watergarden Center -- Picture Book

De-silting and bank retention

Most natural ponds in East Anglia are the result of "open cast" removal of the clay, during earlier centuries for building on farms. A common characteristic of these ponds is a depth of up to two metres and usually relatively steep sides and banks.
These ponds silt up over a 25-35 year cycle and eventually require to be de-silted which is a big undertaking.
Bank retention is one method of adapting these ponds for more ornamental purposes without massive earth moving which might be detrimental of the trees that often line their banks.

	Silt removal, over 25 years accumulation of organic silt.
Getting back to the original clay often leaves an unexpected pond depth.
	The silt will eventually dry & shrink to the point where it can be spread and re-seeded.
De-silting gives these ponds another 30 years life, amphibians will be the first to return. Plants will probably need to be re-introduced.
	Utilising pressure treated, machine rounded logs, positioned in the vertical to make for easier management.
Treated planking secured horizontally to prevent bank erosion.
	Using ex-railway sleepers (work by others)
Erosion control utilising marginal plants, on a fishing lake in Norfolk.

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