According to RoSPA, 15 children under 6 a year drown in their own home.
That's a truly harrowing statistic, made all the more concerning by the fact that over half of these can be easily prevented by the use of a pool or pond cover. With the risks very obvious to any concerned parent and the fact that building surveyors are now flagging garden ponds as dangerous, the decision to cover or fill your pond is a clear one.
Many people will choose to simply fill their pond in. Whilst not necessarily quick or even easy, it is decisive and guaranteed to prevent any accidents from occurring. However, the cost to your garden's wildlife is enormous, with many conserved species such as frogs, newts and toads losing vital habitat in the process. Not to mention the effect it will have on the way your garden looks and feels.
That is not to say you should prioritise frogs over your own children! Far from it. But when given the option to cover and conserve with an entirely quick and painless safety system that's designed to save your child's life when the worst happens, why would you choose otherwise?

Unfortunately, the worst does happen. When I was a small child, the
aquatic safety industry was in a very different place to it was now and
there were actually quite a few occasions when my own parents had to
rescue me from my own moments falling in. It's so easily done.
For
peace of mind and the knowledge that you don't have to be on high alert
any time your child goes near your pond, what price tag can you put on
that? No one wants to take their eye off their loved ones for a second
and be one of the unfortunate few.
That is exactly why we have been at the forefront of the pond safety industry for nearly 20 years.
How to cover your pond without spoiling the view
There are many options on the market, with solid grid systems that sit under the water, to metal frameworks and meshes to pond safety netting, all of which have variying benefits and drawbacks.
Solid, below surface grid systems
This
type of pond cover was amongst the earliest to be pioneered. The solid,
injection moulded plastic grids sit on top of upright legs, aluminium
framework and supports. They are by and large incredibly strong systems
which can be fitted to any shape and size pond.
They
can be installed as a DIY system but are often very complicated, so it
is usually better to opt in for the installation service. Your
installation would be carried out by trained fitters, often with
guarantees and insurances on the product and its installation. You'll
also have to book in a date that's convenient for fitting and delivery.
It's
a larger cost but will be a permanent fixture in your pond, preventing
accidents from occuring for as long as you keep the pond. Access will be
impaired, so again you'll need help detaching the grids from the base
structure.
There's a lot of fun to be had with
this type of pond safety system. Take a look on Google for photos of
this type of installation with almost biblical images of adults walking
on water!
Depending on whether you like the
look of the grids themselves, you can fit these just below or above the
water level. As seasons change, water levels will rise and fall and
you'll often see them whether you've chosen a below water level fitting
or not.
Metal framework covers
Possibly
the most expensive of all types of pond cover, due to the larger
material cost, shipping and manufacturing process. They can be extremely
attractive features in your garden, rivalling a well constructed
pergola or pagoda.
If you have a local blacksmith and deep pockets, then there are even more social and aesthetic benefits to this option.
Equally, you may prefer the look of a pond unencumbered by structures sitting above the water level, protruding above.
Metal meshes
Amongst
the cheapest of options and certainly one of the shortest term fixes
with often the crudest of appearances. Welding mesh, chicken wire or
general wire mesh sheeting can be used to cover raised wall ponds,
adding rudimental protection without necessarily any strength.
These
type of meshes, unless powder coated or painted, corrode or rust
quickly further undermining the strength. They're perfect in the very
short term as a visual deterrant and for protecting against very small
impacts but perhaps not as effective.
Pond safety netting
There
are many varying thicknesses, mesh sizes and tensile strengths
available. Each have their own purpose. Whilst we do indeed sell our own
(see Bull Nets Pond Safety Kit), it wouldn't be fair to oversell this without first presenting the other options available.
Smaller
meshes, with around 10mm x 10mm wide holes and 1-2mm thick strands are
perfect for keeping birds and leaves out of your pond, helping to
protect any fish below. They're lightweight, affordable and often are
made from UV-stable polypropylene, making them weather proof too.
However, this isn't necessarily always true. With a lot of really cheap
nets, often imported from the far east, you get what you pay for and
ultimately you will have to replace these.
These
same small-mesh nets may even come with complimentary plastic pegs to
anchor the net with. Again, absolutely fine for holding the net in place
but in terms of strength, they won't amount to very much at all. Some
offer metal tent pegs that would simply slide out upon impact - just
like on every windy camping holiday you've ever been on. This and the
tensile strength of thin mesh netting is the overall reason why they're
only really suitable as use for keeping birds and leaves out, rather
than children.
Much thicker meshes are
available, some as high as 8mm thick with 50mm x 50mm holes. They're a
little more to handle and have a weight issue too. The heavier the mesh,
the more support that safety net in itself would require resulting in a
larger fixing cost and effort to install.
There
are also knotted options available, which appear strong initially but
possibly may weaken over time as the knots split under tension - this
can happen!
Lastly, there are woven safety
netting systems which are a direct hybrid of industrial and domestic use
safety nets. For example, Bull Nets' 4mm thick net is thick enough to
bear large weight and impacts but light enough to not need excessive
support. They're also weather proof, rot proof and warp proof. The
meshes won't keep normal sized leaves out of your pond but they'll make
access too difficult for herons to bother attacking fish. If you're
concerned about leaves falling in but mainly the safety of your child,
you may want a smaller mesh net to go with this to keep the leaves out.
With
the correct non-slip fixings, your pond is instantly safe for children
(and adults) whilst also accessible for maintenance. Bull Nets' fixing
sets come with weather proof detachable clips, making the net removable
at a moment's notice - all without compromising the strength and safety
of the net. Unlike tent pegs or concrete pilings, they stay anchored
even against wind or impact and won't slip!
With
all this info in mind, what will you choose to do? Do you have any
questions relating to making your pond safe for children? Get in touch!