WONDERFUL water features

Water features attract wildlife and are a wonderful way to add an element of surprise to a garden

- NICOLA STOCKEN

Nowadays, gardeners are spoiled for choice by a wide selection of imaginative and versatile water features to suit gardens of all sizes, styles and layouts. The greatest constraint is space, but even a tiny courtyard has a corner that could benefit from a pebble pool, wall fountain or water barrel planted with water lilies. Many small, self-contained water features require little more than plugging into the mains, while solar-powered fountains come as fully-inclusive kits designed for simple installation. These are great if you want an attractive feature in a short time.

In a larger garden, there is ample scope for building a pond that harmonises with the surroundings. ‘In all probability, your garden will be either formal or informal, so any new feature should follow suit,’ advises award-winning garden designer David Stevens. Formal features can be easiest to plan as they have a uniform shape – square, rectangular or round – that ties in with the existing garden. They can be sunk into the ground, or raised up to bring the surface closer to eye level.

A natural pond