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

A natural pond will create a haven for wildlife – imagine water boatmen skating across the surface, dragonflies darting to and fro, frogs toads and newts inhabiting the margins and birds as regular visitors. It will not need fish or fountains, but it will need shallow edges for marginals and a slope to allow easy access for animals. Excavate to a depth of at least 30in (75cm), and line with sand followed by a butyl rubber liner. Plant native aquatic plants, so that once established, two-thirds of the surface is covered. Some aquatic plants are invasive and should be avoided – these include curly water weed, Canadian pondweed, reeds and floating pennywort.

Reflective pools