Snowy Owl Wrote:Sounds good Red Kite it can sometimes be hard to get the balance right.

I always knew the Common Reed would need managing, but I love its height & the seed heads, Duck Weed & Blanket Weed are a problem as even with less Common Reed the I can't skim either off between the leaves & flower heads of the Bog Bean & Marsh Cinquefoil. They are both beautiful plants & I love having them in my pond. Marsh Bedstraw is also beautiful then in flower on the higher area as it's a mass of tiny white flowers that leave a faint smell of honey hanging in the air.
Hedgehogs & Rats would be a real problem to duck eggs Karen. In New Zealand Hedgehogs are considered vermin by many, as unlike here they are thriving as there isn't the same traffic density & farming isn't as intensive. Many say Hedgehogs are a real threat to Kiwi as they eat lots of ground nesting bird's eggs & they could become extinct. Both species if around your garden would happily feast off duck eggs.