Details of construction

 

The digging plan is simple. The drag-line operator first takes out an area 30 yds. long and 122yds. wide. He then turns at right angles and digs for a further 1 72 yds., turns again and digs 172 yds. parallel to the first line. This leaves a small area to be dug to complete the square. The spoil should be thrown back from the water's edge as far as possible. The machine is then pulled back 5 yds. and taken round the pond once more to dig the 5 yds. X 5 yds. shallow bays. These should have shelving banks, so that ducklings can leave the pond easily and will not become separated from the parent duck, who can negotiate steeper slopes.

To carry out this plan exactly, it is necessary to have some level ground, not more than 3 ft. above the water table and free of obstacles such as trees. It is easy to vary the shape for less convenient sites. It can be made long and narrow, for instance, by increasing the length of the first and third digs. The overall size can be reduced by cutting down the distance to which the operator swings his bucket.

To assist him it will be worth while pegging out the first area to be dug and the central island. When the first two sections have been cleared it is only necessary for him to use the island as a pivot to complete the square.

Although we have given exact measurements they should be treated as approximate when carrying out the actual operation, otherwise a meticulous operator will waste a lot of unnecessary time. For example, it is of no great importance whether the island or the bays are 4 yds. square or 6 yds. square; it is the overall pattern which matters.

Similarly some bays could be eliminated to accommodate large trees or minor variations in the ground available for digging. The pond need not necessarily be made square or oblong-it could be the shape of a parallelogram.

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