County Durham, United Kingdom

In deep shade, in the northeast facing corner of the garden is an old pond in a bath. It has a beech hedge on two sides, and is overhung by two acers. We have just cleared out dead leaves, mud and rotting aqauatic plants, and want to know what to do next. The bath is too heavy for us to move, and the liner is intact. Suggestions would be gratefully received. We live next to a heathland nature reserve, and wonder, should we turn it into a boggy area? Keeping the leaves out seems impossible. Thanks, Judithmarie

• 29 Mar, 2010