Are you a beach lover trapped in the countryside?

If the answer is Yes, you are not alone. I really enjoy living in the countryside, but I do miss the ocean. I was raised in a coastal city, and my summer vacations were always spent in the water. I love floating in it; it's the most relaxing thing for me. Being in a forest is probably the next best thing.

The beach, my happy place

Rivers and lakes are a subpar alternative. I enjoy the ocean with its waves and salty water—the saltier, the better. While swimming pools are preferable to having no water at all, I can't comprehend why some people choose to spend their holidays at beach destinations by the pool instead of the beach.

I recently met up with friends in Faro, Portugal. We were all arriving from different places, and my flight arrived first. Faro doesn't have a beach near its city centre. The nearest beach is actually a 10-minute bus ride from the airport, in the opposite direction of the city centre. Since my friends were arriving four hours later, I had to come up with a plan. Once I discovered I could store my luggage at the airport for a small fee, my plan was set. I decided to take the bus to the beach and then return to the airport to meet my friends. Upon reaching the beach, I bought an ice cream at the first kiosk I saw and took a walk along the shore. After finishing my ice cream, I headed straight into the water. It was refreshing, very salty. It did not disappoint.

I love my current location and moving to a coastal town isn't an option for me. However, the longing for water is real. Two years ago, I first learned about natural swimming ponds at the Chelsea Flower Show. I was thrilled until I discovered the cost—around £150,000, which is far beyond my budget. I began dreaming of having one and saw some skilled people constructing them in their backyards as DIY projects. Unfortunately, I'm not very adept at building things and would probably end up damaging something like a pipe. It was wise not to take on such a DIY challenge. There is some hope, though, as a recent search on ChatGPT indicates that costs now start from £40,000. Even so, this is still beyond my budget.

I had to settle with a cattle troth in our front garden for the looks and a paddling pool "hidden" in the back of our garden for the splash. Transforming a cattle trough into a mini pond was a simple DIY project. All the necessary materials can be sourced from a hardware store. The essential part of planting involves including one oxygenating plant, such as Hornwort, using the correct soil mix, and planting each species at the appropriate depth. We took guidance from Kate Bradbury's book, "How to Create a Wildlife Pond," as it was straightforward and featured a specific section on converting a cattle trough.

Cattle troth just converted into a pond

One fail was to fill up the troth with tap water. Despite Kate Bardbury's advice, we decided to supplement with tap water due to poor planning, which left us without enough stored rainwater. Since tap water lacks the proper pH, algae developed. Fortunately, the plants we added to the pond were resilient and managed to filter it out. However, for several weeks, we thought, "OMG, we need to start again!"

The other fail has been a very cheap solar water fountain that keeps spitting the water out of the cattle troth whenever there is a breeze. We haven't addressed that issue since water movement is intended to assist. I believe we simply need a more effective solution.

I wish we had planned better for water storage. The heat causes the water in the cattle trough to evaporate, and the solar water fountain also contributes to water loss by blowing it away. This means we are constantly topping up with tap water, messing the pH.

Despite the drawbacks, I enjoy sitting in the mornings with a cup of coffee beside the cattle trough. It brings life to the garden as birds pause to drink and bathe. Additionally, the sight and sound of water are always soothing.

The image below illustrates the growth of the plants. The Marsh Marigold on the left was the first to bloom, followed by the Water Forget-Me-Not and the Water Lily. While the grasses quickly took root, the water mint took a little more time but is now flourishing. I am looking forward to watch it flower.

Whisky relaxing by the pond

Many flying insects are attracted to the water, but we have not yet seen dragonflies and toads. That would be the cherry on top of the cake!

Someday, when we feel more flush, we'll have a spot for a swimming pond. Until then, I have a reason to plan vacations by the sea!