The following construction is based on the formal pond seen in the Pavilion garden at Stylegardens.

It is very simple to construct, however it may be necessary for you to get some professional assistance in cutting the timber sleepers.

The pond is a simple rectangle measuring roughly 8x4 and about 12 deep.

I have used sleepers as they provide an instant wall. However if you possess simple bricklaying skills then the side walls can be constructed form brick or concrete block, thus there is no limit to the size of your pond.

Pond liner (amount depends on size of pond)

Fabric pond insulation

3 x Railway sleepers 8 x 8

Coach bolts or Heavy duty L brackets

Sand

Timber or slabs for coping

Rake Spirit level

Lump hammer

Short length of PVC - 1 pipe to provide an overflow.

Step 1

Once you have chosen the site for your pond, roughly level the site with a rake. A few shovelfulls of stonedust or coarse sand can be added to the site to ensure an even base for the sleepers to rest on.

Place your first full sleeper in position, then once you are satisfied that the position is correct, using a spirit level ensure the sleeper is level horizontally.

Cut one sleeper in half and use these two halves as the ends of your pool, using the same method for levelling.

Secure the sleepers together using coach bolts or heavy duty L brackets. Place the final full sleeper to create your side wall.

Use a carpenters right angle to ensure that the internal angles are as close to 90 degrees as possible. Finally cut a small channel, approximately an inch wide to allow the overflow pipe to sit neatly in the sleeper (see diagram 1).

Tip - Use stonedust to pack underneath the sleeper to ensure that it is level.