Project Description
The Brief:
JDM Ponds was commissioned to create a nature area at Hilltop Primary School in Hamilton, Leicester — providing the school with a wildlife pond and surrounding habitat space to support outdoor learning and curriculum-linked activities. The brief prioritised pupil safety alongside genuine ecological value, ensuring the space would function as a real wildlife habitat while remaining safe and accessible for children of all ages.
What We Did:
Working closely with the school to understand their curriculum needs and safety requirements, we designed a wildlife pond with gently sloping sides and a clearly defined access area. The design ensures children can observe pond life safely from the edge without the risk of steep drops.
The pond was excavated and lined, with planting shelves included for native marginal and aquatic plants. The surrounding nature area was developed with native planting, rough habitat areas and defined pathways to guide children around the space. All materials were selected to be natural, safe and appropriate for a school environment.
Work was completed to allow maximum use from the beginning of the new school term.
The Result:
The nature area has become one of the most used areas of the school grounds. The wildlife pond attracted pond life within its first season, giving children direct access to living British wildlife. The school now uses the space regularly for science, nature study and environmental education — exactly what it was designed for.
Services Used
Pond Construction Projects Across the East Midlands
JDM Ponds have completed pond construction and maintenance projects throughout the East Midlands — including Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Burton upon Trent, Lincoln, Grantham, Loughborough, Mansfield, Newark on Trent, Hucknall and Oakham. Every project in our portfolio has been designed, built and maintained by our specialist team, bringing together over 20 years of aquatic trade experience and 20 years of landscaping and construction expertise.
Whether you are looking for a small garden wildlife pond, a feature koi pond with bespoke filtration, a raised pond with glass viewing panels, or a natural swimming pond — you will find examples of our work above. All projects are completed to the highest standard with premium materials from our trusted suppliers including Oase, Kelkay and Maidenhead Aquatics.
Interested in a similar project? Contact us for a free, no-obligation site visit and quotation anywhere across the East Midlands.
Looking to create a nature area or wildlife pond for your school or organisation in Leicester or the East Midlands?
Contact JDM Ponds to discuss your project.