Creating Personal Natural Swimming Ponds is My Profession, and These are the Insights Gained from Building One Own
A Sustainable Swimming Experience in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is home to a unique and eco-friendly swimming destination - the natural swimming pond at Ellicar. This innovative waterbody, designed by leading natural swimming pond designer Sarah Murch, offers a beautiful and sustainable swimming experience that seamlessly blends with the region's natural environment.
The Design
The pond, measuring approximately 300 square meters, is strategically placed to catch the last sunray and align with the prevailing southwest wind for optimal natural heating and circulation. The design integrates the swimming zone with a naturalistic wildlife garden that transitions to woodland and meadows. The design respects the soil layers - fenland soil, clay, and a 2-meter sand layer - and the temperate climate, allowing for a natural morphing of planting rather than rigid arrangement.
The Plants
Plant selection follows where they want to grow naturally, with a mix of aquatic and marginal species that contribute to water filtering and habitat creation. The approach encourages natural seeding and minimal intervention, emphasizing plants that thrive without staking or feeding, thus letting the ecosystem balance itself over time. Typical plants in such ponds include reeds, sedges, water lilies, and oxygenators, though exact species are adapted to local conditions and design goals.
Maintenance
Maintenance is kept minimal, mainly observing and allowing plants to self-regulate without constant tweaking. The natural swimming pond is designed to "look after itself," reducing the need for chemical treatments or mechanical filtration systems. Seasonal management might include light pruning or removal of excess vegetation to maintain water clarity, but the ecological design reduces ongoing labor.
A Unique Perspective
The swimming pool is raised from ground level, providing a unique vantage point to see pond life from the dining table. The surrounding garden features a variety of landscapes, including a woodland, perennial meadows, gravel garden, winter garden, and formal rose garden. An old millstone belonging to Sarah's grandfather sits by the water's edge, with lights embedded into the surface, adding a touch of charm to the setting.
A Wildlife Haven
The islands of prairie planting along the side of the pool serve the dual purpose of catching leaf debris and acting as a barrier to keep the water clean. The shelter belt of 300 trees, including Pinus wallichiana and Abies sibirica, is sited to filter the prevailing wind, with these evergreens favored immediately facing the pool to avoid leaf drop. The garden is a haven for wildlife, with an avenue of Malus 'Evereste' crab apples, Molinia caerulea 'Edith Dudszus', Iris 'Flight of Butterflies', geums, Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert', Digitalis purpurea, and various Lythrum salicaria cultivars found within.
This style of pond offers a sustainable, beautiful swimming experience that blends seamlessly with South Yorkshire's natural environment, emphasizing wildlife friendliness and low upkeep. For more detailed examples, visiting ellicar.co.uk provides additional insight into the project described. The opportunity to build a natural swimming pond arose when Sarah Murch and her family bought an old care home with land in 2008. The beach area of the pool is made up of a 200mm sand layer, where children can play and dig. The climate is temperate with southwesterly winds. The outdoor dining area is located to the side of the swimming pool's sun deck.
Gardens surrounding the swimming pond at Ellicar in South Yorkshire feature a variety of landscapes, including woodland, perennial meadows, gravel garden, winter garden, and formal rose garden, enhancing the overall home-and-garden lifestyle. The choice of plants in the natural swimming pond, such as reeds, sedges, water lilies, and oxygenators, serves not only as a beautiful green landscape but also promotes nature by filtering the water and creating habitats. The design of the natural swimming pond, with its raised pool and strategically placed islands, encourages a sustainable gardening approach, allowing the ecosystem to balance itself with minimal intervention.
