Use aquatic planting baskets lined with hessian and filled with aquatic compost (not garden compost). Top the compost with fine gravel to stop it floating out. Place the baskets on inverted plastic pots or bricks inside the pond to raise them to the correct depth — most marginal plants want their basket rim 5–10cm below the water surface.

The best plants for a UK raised pond include Iris laevigata (Japanese water iris), Caltha palustris (marsh marigold), Myosotis scorpioides (water forget-me-not), Typha minima (dwarf bulrush), and Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) as a submerged oxygenator. A dwarf water lily adds surface cover and flowers through summer. All are UK-hardy and suited to the water depth of a raised pond.

The clean and minimal design — fill the pond with water, add a handful of smooth pebbles if you like, and switch on the integrated fountain and filtration. Total setup time is under an hour and ongoing maintenance is almost zero. Plants and fish can always be added later.

Yes. You can restyle a PLINTH at any time. Many people start with a clean, minimal setup and add plants or fish later as their confidence grows. The integrated filtration supports all three approaches without any modifications.

For a clean look, leave the base empty — the dark interior is striking on its own — or add a thin layer of smooth river pebbles. For a planted setup, plants sit in baskets on raised platforms, not in substrate on the base. For a fish setup, keep the base clean or use only a thin scattering of smooth pebbles, as fish waste accumulates in thick gravel.

Goldfish enter a dormant state in cold water and stop feeding below approximately 8°C. Keep the pump running to prevent the surface freezing completely. In prolonged freezing conditions, use a floating de-icer to maintain a small area of open water for gas exchange. Never break ice by hitting it — the shockwave stresses the fish.

Spring: resume fish feeding gradually, check plants, clean filter media. Summer: feed daily, top up water levels, monitor for algae. Autumn: reduce feeding, remove fallen leaves, cut back dying plant foliage. Winter: stop feeding below 8°C, keep the pump running, use a de-icer if needed.