Every garden ought to have a water feature even if it is no more elaborate than a terra cotta pot with an aquatic plant or a simple saucer as a bird bath. Every living creature needs water and water attracts wildlife. It is particularly attractive if it gives the sight or sound of moving water. Most aquatic plants and the various creatures that live in the water do better if the water is still. Most birds seem to like the water shallow.
Some wildlife prefer to drink moisture that has condensed on foliage and so on.
This sub-section is about the design, construction, and maintenance of water features in the garden and the ways water can be used to attract and to help maintain wildlife. Although some of them have the capacity of eating plants, their presence does not necessarily mean they are causing damage worth worrying about. Wildlife is usually more sensitive to the toxicity of pesticides than most garden pests and wildlife falls victim more easily. Wildlife usually has a more difficult time in recovering from toxic exposure and it usually also has a greater problem in developing effective tolerance. Part of the reason for this is bio-magnification .