You have finally finished installing your backyard pond and it’s time sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. After carefully planning, digging and filling, your pond is something to behold. But even if you have surrounded it with flowers, installed colorful pond lighting, and stocked it with colorful garden pond fish, you may not be quite done yet. If you have children, or have children living nearby, you may want to take a few safety precautions to ensure they remain as safe as possible.
According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, children between 1 and 2 are the most at risk of experiencing a garden pond accident. As children get older, their risk continues to decrease. Typically around the age of 5 is when children start to understand the concept of danger, and the warnings to stay away from the outdoor water source will start to be heeded.
How to Make your Backyard Pond Safe
Always be on the look-out. Of course you can’t keep your eyes on your water garden 24 hours a day, but regularly taking peeks into your yard would be a good habit to develop. RoSPA advises that parents need to constantly supervise children in the garden or near the water feature. They also need to ensure that the pond is inaccessible to the child who may escape supervision.
Consider fencing. If you have little ones that like to wander, putting up temporary fencing around your pond can provide an additional layer of security. The fence should be high and secure enough to keep children out as well as be locked at all times.
Try pond protection netting. Typical fish pond netting is flexible and used to protect fish from predators and to block leaves from falling into the pond. It is held down by stakes placed around the water feature. A more secure mesh that is durable enough to support the weight of a child, can be completely secured, and is immovable is recommended for optimal pond safety.
Families can still enjoy the sights and sounds of backyard water gardens. Children love to watch the colorful koi fish splash around and learn about the other wildlife that is living there. It’s just important to remain diligent at all times whenever children might be nearby.