Free-standing pond
View Patent ↗A free-standing pond ( 10 ) is provided to allow access to the pond by wildlife, the pond comprising a first staircase ( 50 ) leading up the outside of the pond, and a second staircase ( 70 ) leading down the inside of the pond, wherein a crossing area ( 60, 62 ) is provided joining the top of the first and second staircases, and wherein the depth of the treads ( 72 ) of the second staircase are substantially greater than the depths of the treads ( 52 ) of the first staircase, and wherein at least some of the treads ( 52 ) of the first staircase are arranged to be grippable, in use, by wildlife such as frogs.
1 . A free-standing frog pond, for allowing access to the pond by frogs, comprising:
side walls;
a substantially continuous rail at the top of the side walls, wherein the rail has a top;
a first staircase leading up outside the pond;
a second staircase leading down inside the pond, wherein the first and the second staircases each include a top, treads, and risers; and
a first crossing area formed by the top of the rail, wherein a tread of the first staircase is substantially level with the top of the rail and has a depth substantially greater than a depth of each of the other treads of the first staircase, and wherein a tread of the second staircase is substantially level with the top of the rail and has a depth substantially greater than a depth of each of the other treads of the second staircase;
a second crossing area joining the top of the first and second staircases, and wherein the risers of the first and the second staircases include grooves, wherein a depth of the treads of the second staircase are substantially greater than a depth of the treads of the first staircase, and wherein at least some of the treads of the first staircase are arranged to be grippable by frogs, in use.
2 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the treads of the second staircase are arranged to be grippable by frogs.
3 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein the treads include planar surfaces, noses, and an indentation in the planar surfaces arranged behind, and adjacent, the noses of the treads.
4 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein a pitch of the first staircase is 30 to 60 degrees above horizontal.
5 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein a pitch of the first staircase is 45 to 55 degrees above horizontal.
6 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein the treads of the first staircase have a depth of 5 to 15 mm.
7 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein the risers of the first staircase have a height of 10 to 25 mm.
8 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , further comprising:
a barrier along an outside edge of the first staircase.
9 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , further comprising:
a barrier along an outside edge of the crossing area.
10 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , wherein the first and second staircase, the crossing area, are all arranged to be releasably connectable to one another.
11 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , further comprising a planter inside the pond and adjacent the second staircase.
12 . The free-standing pond of claim 11 , further arranged such that the planter is releasably connectable to the first and second staircase, and the crossing area.
13 . The free-standing pond of claim 1 , further comprising:
a liner and a fountain.