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Hi @annieerbs,
Building a simple bridge over your inground fish and frog pond sounds like a charming idea and could really enhance the look of your yard. That said, even if the bridge is intended purely for aesthetics, there are some important considerations to keep in mind, especially regarding safety and compliance with local regulations.
One key concern is that small children might see any structure that looks like a bridge as something to walk on, even if it’s not designed to support weight. This can create a safety risk if the bridge isn’t built to be traffickable or lacks proper support and guardrails. Children don’t always recognise the difference between decorative features and safe walking surfaces, so it’s important to consider this when planning your design.
In many areas nowadays, structures that can be walked on, even small bridges, may need to meet certain safety standards, including proper support, slip-resistant surfaces, and sometimes guardrails or barriers to prevent falls. This is especially relevant if the pond is deep or poses any risk, as councils and building codes tend to be stricter to minimise accident hazards.
Before building, it’s a good idea to check with your local council or building authority to see if there are any specific rules or permits required for a bridge over a water feature. They can guide you on whether your planned design complies with regulations or if you might need to include safety features like handrails.
If you want to keep it very simple and purely decorative without encouraging walking on it, you could consider a small, low-profile arch or a fixed decorative piece that gives the impression of a bridge but isn’t designed to bear weight. This can still create a lovely focal point without the complexities that come with a traffickable structure.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
If it’s purely decorative, @annieerbs and within the pool fence, you could keep it simple by using a couple of lengths of 140 × 35 timber cut long enough to span the pond, then cutting a gentle arch into their profile. To give it that “bridge” look, you could roll some half-log edging over the top. This would create a nice visual feature without needing heavy structural work, and since it’s removable, you could take it out easily if you ever wanted to change things up.
Here's a rendering.
Mitchell
Hello @annieerbs
Let me tag @Herrenovacation to make them aware of your questions. Perhaps it was wrapped for decorative purposes or to hold moisture onto the pipes. Let's wait for Herrenovacation to confirm.
Eric
Hello @annieerbs
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Eric
