grand designs pond house in chichester with natural swimming pool

Landscaping

How to build a natural swimming swimming

Enjoy crystal-clear, chemical-complimentary water that's keen for wellbeing and wildlife

Natural swimming ponds are not only a cute place to have a dip, right in your ain back yard, they also encourage wildlife into the garden. Ponds can even cool your home. Plus, a daily dip is great for your wellbeing.

The idea behind natural swimming ponds is to create a beautiful, crystal-articulate pond environment without chemicals. To foreclose algae growing and creating murky waters, it's imperative to reduce the nutrients in the h2o. Rather than pumping water through shingle, which acts every bit a filter, a true natural swimming swimming uses a delicate residual of plants to absorb nutrients, micro-organisms and pathogens.

natural swimming pond

Dan and Nina Rowland's Chichester home with natural swimming pond. Photo: James French

Dan & Nina's natural swimming pond

Being able to dive direct off the deck exterior the kitchen into crystal-clear waters is surely a highlight of Dan and Nina Rowland's Yard Designs home in Chichester. The couple started off with an existing pond, which had been dug more than a century agone to drain the surrounding land, only a natural swimming pond can be created from scratch, as well.

The first footstep for Dan and Nina was, of course, earthworks. Some 1.5m of sludge was removed from the bottom, which amounted to around 500 tonnes, and allowed to dry out and so it could be used to landscape the garden. Further excavation created the pond pond, while a shallower pond, separate from the principal body of water, continues to act every bit a natural drain.