BURNING DESIRE

From cosy wood-burning fire pits to wall-mounted radiant heaters, there is no shortage of ways to generate some winter warmth

- Karen Booth

Some form of outdoor heating is now de rigueur but what you choose and where you place it depends on how you plan to use your garden and outdoor entertaining areas. If you want to spark lively conversation, a fire pit encircled by stools might be ideal but if you want a quiet space in which to relax after a meal, a built-in fireplace might better suit.

It's not just where you want the heat, though, it's how much you want and how much maintenance you're prepared to do. Electric, gas and bioethanol heaters can be turned on and offer with the flick of a switch while those that burn wood need to have that fuel source constantly replenished then the ash and cold embers cleared away afterwards.

As for ambience, do you want dancing flames without the crackle? If so, bioethanol or gas fireplaces will suffice but for many, the pop of real flames and aroma of woodfire makes the extra effort worth it.

FIT FOR PURPOSE

"It's important to consider outdoor heating up front," says Levi Carter, design manager at Fifth Season Landscapes. "As garden designers we're always aiming to create a comfortable space for people to spend time in, especially when it comes to outdoor living. Comfort directly relates to function and through heating we're able to activate a space at night, or in the colder months, that may otherwise have been unusable."

Aaron Worth of Utopian Landscape Design agrees. "Whether you're in a cold or temperate climate, heating is a crucial consideration when designing a garden as it either extends the usable timeframe of the space or allows year-round use. Outdoor fire pits and fireplace are also often employed for their aesthetic value as design features that can be appreciated at all times of the year.