A sunken pond relies on the surrounding soil to support its sides, but a raised pond must have a support of some kind, usually of timber, brick or stone. It's best to choose materials that blend in with those already used in your house and garden.

Both types of pond require a lot of work, but once you've dug out a hole for a sunken pond, you end up with a huge heap of soil which can present a disposal problem, unless you are planning a rockery. Handy for a waterfall that can look natural if you position the rocks and plants carefully.

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Or course, whether you have a sunken or raised pond, you will need to stop the water leaking out. The most practical options are a tough but flexible sheet liner or a pre-formed shape. Both should be finished off with some sort of edging to protect the material from sunlight and hide it from view. It's easy to incorporate a seat into the edge of a raised pond by using broad flat coping stones or timber decking. You can finish the edge in the same way for a sunken pond, and there's also the option of taking turf to the water's edge, although you will need to prevent mowings from dropping into the pond. Otherwise they will add unwanted nutrients to the water and encourage blanket weed.