Specialised Water Features
Apart from conventional garden ponds, there are other bodies of water that were originally created for a totally different purpose, but which because of a change in the requirements of the population are now redundant, yet they are well-suited to either gardening enjoyment or wildlife purposes. A common example is seen with ice ponds. These were replaced many years ago by the refrigerator, and yet still exist in great numbers in colder climates.
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 Ice ponds are excellent for growing waterlilies or other deep water aquatics.
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![0000415[1]. ''. Photo supplied by: - IHC - -](./images/upload/0000415[1].250.jpg) A mill pond provides a beautiful and expansive reflective body of water.
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Ice ponds generally make excellent places to grow waterlilies and other deep water aquatics, although they cannot usually accommodate marginal plantings. They are more amenable to plant cultivation than mill ponds, where the body of water was originally intended as a reserve for turning the mill wheel. However, rarely do ice ponds have the majesty or reflective qualities of the mill pond. An expansive mirror that reflects the garden around it.
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| Moats are similar to mill ponds, in that they were created to contain a large volume of water.
In many cases this is too deep for the successful cultivation of aquatic plants and serves as a landscape feature. However, there are a number, especially that originated as earth constructions, where it is quite possible to establish both marginal plantings and deep water aquatics.
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 Moats were originally created as defensive features but some can be converted successfully to water gardens.
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 The boating pond combines the beauty of water with opportunities for recreation.
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Stew ponds are of a similar vintage to moats, but are much more amenable to plant cultivation, providing that they receive sufficient sunlight. These were originally constructed solely for the keeping of fish for the table, especially European carp. They are shallow formal bodies of water, rarely too deep to accommodate waterlilies and mostly with earth banks that can comfortably accommodate marginal and other planting.
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Some ponds are both decorative and recreational water bodies and also integral parts of the garden or park landscape. This is particularly so with boating ponds. Essentially recreational features, they are also important parts of the overall landscape and are managed as a combination of open water and an aquatic garden. The model boating pond goes further, water management being a priority, along with the maintenance of the fabric of the pond. Here it is all about water clarity ensuring the absence of debris and vegetation, an equal challenge to the care of a well-ordered and planted garden pond.
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 The model boating pond must maintain consistently good water quality.
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