Swimming Zone

There is no upper size limit for this area. If say a small plunge pool was required for children this could be easily achieved and the pond may be easily converted to an ornamental pond at a later date. So, realistically within reason there is no lower size limit. This zone will have no planting in it and can be 2 to 3 ft deep or as deep as is required by the client. The temperature of the water will be warmer than the outside air temperature due to the construction of the regeneration zone. 

Regeneration Zone

This area is where all the filtration work is done. This zone will typically be 50% of the surface area of the swimming pond. It is filled with planting medium and planted with a selection of plants, which will filter the water through their roots, breaking down harmful bacteria. There is a series of pipe work under the planting medium, which, with the aid of pumps circulates the water back into the swimming zone. Once the regeneration zone is established you will be able to swim in pure water. Tests have shown that water in a swimming pond is 75% cleaner than that required for our drinking water.

Heating

Although the water in a swimming pond can be heated it is not recommended. The water in the pond will naturally be several degrees  warmer than a conventional pool because the planting area acts as a natural solar panel.

Wild life

As the plants in the pool mature wild life will start to appear. Contrary to popular opinion the dragonflies damselflies and other creatures will confine themselves to the planted areas. Anyway who could complain about being as close to nature as your going to get.

These ponds are aesthetically more pleasing to look at than a formal pool in your back garden.

Steve Moore (Avenue Landscapes Ltd) and Andrew Ball (Big Fish Aquatics) with our combined 40 years of experience in the field of pond construction are venturing into the swimming pond experience. They are already very much in vogue in Europe and America and are constructed privately and for public use. Historically because of our climate they have not been very practical in this country, but times and our climate are changing.

Swimming ponds will be favoured over chemical filled swimming pools in the coming years for a number of reasons;

1. They are not intrusive and there is no need to hide them in a corner of the garden that is little used.
2. They are aesthetically pleasing and will form part of the landscape.
3. They increase the use of the garden for entertaining.
4. They will create their own little microclimate, which will assist with the ionisation of pollution.
5. There is less maintenance than a regular pool. They are far cheaper to run and maintain.
6. They can be of formal construction, or can be built as a conventional pool with beach areas, waterfalls and streams.