Integrated Wetland & Terrestrial Habitats in Somerset

Creating a multi-layered ecosystem in a Somerset garden

Location: Somerset

Project Scale: Private Residential Garden

Core Expertise: Circular Construction, Bog Garden Design, Hibernaculum Creation

A garden with a large dug hole, a wheelbarrow, and a shovel, surrounded by grass and trees, with a wooden fence in the background.

Our Approach: Habitat Layering

This project is a prime example of circular landscaping, where the waste from one feature becomes the foundation of another.

1. The Pond & Integrated Bog Garden

We constructed a 4m x 3m wildlife pond, seamlessly connected to a bespoke bog garden on the upper-left flank. This creates a moisture gradient, allowing us to plant specialised native species like Bog Bean, Marsh Marigold, and Water Crowfoot. This transition zone is vital for amphibians moving between water and land.

2. The Hillock & Hibernaculum

Rather than removing the excavated clay and topsoil (spoil), we repurposed 100% of the material on-site:

  • The Hibernaculum: Using a mix of subsoil and turfs, we constructed a protected underground chamber. This provides a frost-free refuge for frogs, toads, and newts during the winter months.

  • The Hillock: The remaining spoil was shaped into a naturalistic hillock, designed to be sown with native grasses to provide elevated basking spots for insects and reptiles.

A man and woman standing next to a backyard pond under a partly cloudy sky with trees and houses in the background.
A backyard with a water-filled pond under construction, surrounded by dark soil, with a white house, garden, trees, and blue sky with clouds in the background.

The Challenge: Expanding a Mature Landscape

The clients, Alan and Joy, were already dedicated stewards of their land, maintaining a wildflower meadow and a significant collection of mature trees. However, they recognised that their garden was missing the crucial wetland-to-upland transition that many UK species require to complete their life cycles.

The Goal: To design a complex, multi-functional habitat featuring a 4m x 3m wildlife pond, an integrated bog garden, and a hibernaculum—all while ensuring no waste left the site.

A garden pond under construction with dug-out area, pond liner held down with rocks, and a small pile of soil nearby, in a backyard with grass, plants, and a wooden fence.
A backyard with a pond and a large, arched trench of freshly dug soil.

The Results: A Complete Habitat Mosaic

By combining deep water, marginal bog, and dry terrestrial mounds, we have created a habitat mosaic that supports wildlife year-round, from the height of summer to the depths of winter hibernation.

True ecological gardening is about working with the materials the land gives you. By using the pond's spoil to create a hibernaculum and hillock, we didn't just save on skip hire; we created essential vertical habitats that are often missing from flat Somerset gardens. It’s a closed-loop system that benefits the environment from day one.

Feature Observations & Species Recorded
Aquatic Flora Establishment of White Water-Lily, Iris, and Water Starwort.
Wetland Margins The bog garden provides a niche for Purple Loosestrife and Marsh Marigold.
Overwintering The bespoke Hibernaculum offers a permanent sanctuary for amphibians.
Topography The Hillock adds structural diversity and new micro-climates.

Are you looking to restore the wild potential of your land?

From small-scale meadows to large-acreage rewilding projects, we provide the ecological expertise to help your landscape thrive.

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