Abstract: A safety grate (10) is provided for a garden pond by mounting a grate (10) below the anticipated surface of the water in the pond. This reduces the risk of drowning in the pond, predators catching fish in the pond and animals swimming or rolling in the pond, while preserving the aesthetics of the garden pond. The grate (10) may have larger openings in it for plants and fish or for access to equipment in the pond. The openings may be covered with an access hatch to allow brackets, a support stand and/or a shelf to support the grate (10) at the desired depth in the pond.