Water Features A water feature can

This image The Tavola water feature by sculptor William Pye. Below A tiered fountain from Cavendish Stone. P erfectly still and reflecting the sky’s scudding clouds or the tracery of branches, gurgling from spouts or splashing from fountains, water brings gardens to life – not least because it draws in so much wildlife. On that, experts across the board agree: “Every garden should have a little bit of water somewhere,” insists garden designer and presenter Manoj Malde. “Water in any form in a garden is really important, even if it is just a bath for the birds to enjoy.”

But when it comes to installing a water feature, the options are so diverse it can be bamboozling, and there are a lot of practicalities to consider. If mistakes come to light after the fixture has been installed or a pond filled, they can be a pain to fix. This is a job that it pays to get right from the start.

WATER IN SMALL SPACES

In small gardens, or smaller ‘rooms’ within bigger gardens, a self-contained water feature is a straightforward option. “I’d look at the property first,” says Manoj. “Is it a Victorian house or a modern flat? Whatever elements are in your garden, you want to have that cohesion with your property, – whether it’s modern or slightly more traditional.” In a modern space, Manoj recommends a simple, off-the-shelf, cube-shaped water feature such as A Place in the Garden’s Qube (01403 864866; aplaceinthegarden.co.uk), with water bubbling from the centre of a zinc cube to trickle down the sides.

The acrylic sphere of an Aqua Globe water feature makes a striking, contemporary addition, too, the water clinging to the sphere to give the illusion the ball is floating above its watery base (07881 780000; aquaglobe.co.uk). Foras supplies similar water features and globes in layered slate or marbled sandstone (01366 381069; foras.co.uk). Another option is a simple pot with water spilling over the rim, trickling down the side and then rising back to the top via a holding tank. Look to the Cretan terracotta water features by Pots and Pithoi (01342 714793; potsandpithoi.com), which suit both contemporary and traditional garden styles.

The fashion for Corten steel shows no sign of waning, its rusty tones chiming so well with herbaceous planting and grasses. Tom Stuart-Smith often includes rectangular Corten water tanks amid a sea of perennials in his designs. “It’s such a great material in terms of how it lends itself to both classic gardens and modern ones – I don’t think designers will ever get tired of Corten steel,” says Manoj. “I know it’s expensive but I would love to see more copper because it’s such a beautiful material, especially when it develops its verdigris colour. I’d love to see more bronze, too,” he adds. Architectural Heritage (01386 584414; architecturalheritage.co.uk) can supply a watertight version of its

beautiful large copper planters so that they can be used as water features.

Wall-mounted water features seem to suit courtyards or terraces in particular (or even a balcony), and again there is a huge choice, from the traditional lion’s head spout to a sleek trough with spouts of water cascading downwards. Haddonstone (01604 770711; haddonstone.com) offers a range of wall-mounted fountains in cast stone, plus bowls and pedestals for them to trickle into, while Chilstone supplies an octagonal wall fountain with a flat back that’s reminiscent of a font (01892 313714; chilstone.com). At Bulbeck Foundry (01638 743153; bulbeckfoundry.co.uk) find a range of lead wall fountains or cisterns to position against a wall, with single lion’s head spouts or multiple spouts such as their Newmarket cistern – all are self-contained with built-in pumps, which is a big advantage. If not, as Manoj Malde explains, “you’ve got to make sure you’re able to hide the tubing that circulates the water. The last thing you want is to see the mechanics on show.” Be sure to adjust the flow until the sound of the water is as you like it: not too powerful a jet, or so tinkly that it reminds you of a slowly re-filling toilet cistern. Putting pebbles in the base can completely change the water’s sound, too. Make a statement in an enclosed garden room or provide a focal point at a junction of paths with a free-standing fountain. Tristan Cockerill’s large natural slate globes can sit at ground level with a sunken reservoir below, or on a raised base that would look lovely surrounded by a low hedge of clipped box or euonymus, perhaps (07917 320572; tristancockerill.com). If you hanker for a grand fountain, Architectural Heritage can supply from its age-patinated artificial stone collection, as can Haddonstone and Chilstone, both with extensive ranges. Haddonstone’s Neapolitan fountain, with its shell-like bowl topped with a cherub holding a dolphin, makes a timeless centrepiece. Cavendish Stone produces two- or three-tiered versions of its classic fountain, the composite stone dishes of each

Top left Bulbeck Foundry’s Swaffham lead tank is ideal against a courtyard wall. Top right A simple pot water feature in Cretan terracotta from Pots and Pithoi, with washed pebbles at its base. Above right David Harber’s Mimeo Cascade fountain was inspired by the water features of Arabian gardens. Above left The West Lodge fountain from Haddonstone.

tier carved with water leaves and on top, a pineapple (01747 842214; cavendishstone.com).

For a fountain with a more contemporary feel, consider David Harber’s Mimeo Cascade (01235 859300; davidharber.co.uk), while William Pye’s Tavola bridges the gap between modern and classic with ease (williampye.com).

POND LIFE

Of course, in any sized garden, particularly a country garden, a pond is a simple way to introduce water and, unlike a contained water feature, they’ll bring more benefits for garden wildlife. “In a small garden, even a tiny amount of water is really good, and a pond with planting and rocks around the edge will attract wildlife such as frogs,” says Manoj.

Garden designer Ann-Marie Powell agrees. “Without water you’ll never get as much wildlife into your space as you will if you have a pond,” she says. Ann-Marie is currently completing a large project at RHS Wisley, where the wildlife garden she’s designed at the new Hillside learning centre includes expanses of water. “It’s like gardening with the sky,” she says. Reflection is an important point to consider when you’re deciding on a pond’s position. “Think about how reflections work, because a pond is amazing when it reflects the sky, trees, or whatever you choose to put around it,” Ann-Marie advises.

More and more clients are asking Ann-Marie to incorporate a wildlife pond in the designs she

Top Ideal for humans and wildlife, a swimming pond by The Swimming Pond Company. Above Perfectly in-keeping with the landscape, this swimming pond by Gartenart doesn’t detract from the view. produces. “For years we’ve wanted to put ponds in gardens, and every now and then someone would let us, but now almost every single client is saying ‘I really want a pond,’” she confirms.

Before setting to with a mini-digger, there are some vital things to consider. “Think about where you put it. If you’ve got a level site you can put it wherever you like, but in a sloping garden, for the pond to look natural, it needs to be at the bottom of the slope,” says Ann-Marie. It’s also important

to investigate your garden’s natural water table. You can make a naturally waterproof pond liner by puddling clay, but usually a man-made liner is installed. Here, Ann-Marie offers a word of warning: “If you do this where there’s a high water table, the water can push your liner and water up and out of your pond, so you have to drain the water away to put the pond in.”

A pond should be a minimum of 60cm deep at the centre to stop it from freezing in winter, and AnnMarie also recommends paying careful consideration to its edging: where the liner meets planting at the side it will need something to hide it. “Always create ‘beaches’ so wildlife can get in and out and marginal shelves for planting,” she suggests. When it comes to liners, Ann-Marie advises always buying the most expensive liner you can afford, since this will help avoid future leaks, which can be difficult to fix.

Formal water features for larger gardens include smart rills, but these installations can be complex, especially if they are stepped. Enlisting the services of a designer and a specialist landscape contractor is advisable, so the complex system of pumps, valves and electricity can be set up properly.

The Rolls-Royce of ponds has to be a natural swimming pond that is as much a haven for wildlife as it is a playful addition to the garden. These ponds have a separate regeneration zone that filters the water through planting and shingle to keep it crystal clear for swimming. Gartenart (020 7183 3333; gartenart.co.uk) and The Swimming Pond Company (01379 688000; theswimmingpondcompany.co.uk) can advise on the costs and practicalities of their installation. Their natural aesthetic makes them easy to integrate into gardens and their surrounding landscape, as does the planting they incorporate.

Above left Stepped rills are complex water features to install, usually requiring a skilled landscape contractor. Top right Ponds needn’t be big to be beneficial. Above right Damselflies rely on marginal planting surrounding ponds. Above middle Water is essential for garden wildlife such as frogs.

PLANTS

Planting in any pond maintains the oxygen balance. Oxygenating aquatic plants are essential in a wildlife pond, as are floating plants, which provide shade and shelter for the pond’s inhabitants and also prevent excessive algal growth. Try Bennett’s Waterlily Plants (07812 175688; waterlily.co.uk) to recreate a Monet-style scene. Marginal plants play a crucial role in providing a habitat for pond life. Lincolnshire Pond Plants (01472 566970; lincspplants.co.uk) stock a vast range of marginals, such as rose-pink water gladiolus (Butomus umbellatus) or arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)with its spear-like leaves.

If you get an invasion of blanketweed or duckweed, scoop out as much as possible, and try Aquaplancton, which stimulates beneficial bacteria in the water to restore the pond’s balance (01298 214003; aquaplancton.co.uk). Blagdon also supplies treatments for common pond problems, as well as a comprehensive range of pumps, filters, nets and aeration systems, to keep your pond in perfect health (blagdonwatergardening.co.uk). n

Manoj Malde. Tel: 07979 658890; manojmalde gardendesign.co.uk. Ann-Marie Powell. Tel: 01730 825650; ann-mariepowell.com. Ann-Marie’s book, My Real Garden is on sale now with proceeds going to Greenfingers Charity. Visit myrealgarden.co.uk.

Left A natural pond is fascinating to sit beside and watch the wildlife it attracts, so position seating nearby for maximum enjoyment. Above Marginal plants such as Butomus umbellatus really help settle a pond into its surrounding landscape. Right Aim to cover around two thirds of the pond’s surface with floating plants, such as beautiful waterlilies.

Call in the professionals

Manoj Malde advises on water feature installation

Moving water should be the most peaceful and serene sound you can hear in a garden. But if a water feature is poorly built or installed, problems can swiftly arise.

Water features range from natural swimming pools and formal ponds to simple containers with bubbling spouts. The skill set of the contractor you use should suit the design of your water feature. A formal pond could be constructed by a skilled landscape contractor, but a natural swimming pool is a completely different ball game requiring specialist knowledge of materials, regeneration zones, the eco-system of the pool, and the overall mechanics. Engage the wrong skill set and that same pool becomes a breeding ground for algae, mosquitoes, even legionella and other waterborne diseases.

Problems can occur if a water feature isn’t properly installed. If the wrong sized pump is used for the size of the water feature, the flow rate per minute will be inadequate. There may not be controls on the pump to increase or decrease the flow of water or overflow pipes to stop the water feature overflowing during heavy rain. Water features should also have return valves to stop the water flowing in the reverse direction. There should be an auto top-up installed in the header tank, and the balancing tank needs to be at the right location and height. Visible mechanics look unsightly as do a visible liner, joints and grout, when the lining and level of a pond haven’t been considered.

Visit bali.org.uk or landscaper. org.uk to find a range of accredited landscaping experts.

KNOCK ON WOOD

After deciding to extend their Cheshire home, one couple enlisted the help of oak-frame experts Oakwrights and ended up with the garden room they had always dreamed of

When Jim and Sharon Addington bought a beautiful Cheshire farmhouse more than 20 years ago, they knew there was plenty of work to be done to the property. And while their renovations at the time were extensive – to include a large, attached garage and guest bedroom, creating substantial second floor accommodation – the one thing they didn’t extend was the ground floor of the house. “The size of the sitting room was still limited, and we felt restricted for space when entertaining family and friends,” Sharon recalls.

The couple were fortunate to own

Above The oak-framed garden room extension by Oakwrights is perfectly in keeping with Jim and Sharon Addington’s period home in Cheshire.

the land adjacent to the sitting room and knew there would one day be the possibility to knock through and extend. Over the years, they looked at the local architecture to decide exactly the style they would like and eventually settled on an oak-framed extension for their home.

Fast forward to 2017. After deciding to extend the property, the couple soon decided that Oakwrights captured the concept of what they were looking for in a garden room.

The decision was partly due to the way Oakwrights craft their frames off-site. Having worked in the manufacturing industry himself, Jim could see the benefits of this: “We were filled with confidence that we would receive a beautifully designed product, built to our specification and to the quality we had in mind,” he says.

When Nick Price and Tim Crump established Oakwrights more than 20 years ago, crafting the wood offsite was one of many ideas they had. They also built their own show home in 2007, allowing potential customers to experience the joys of an oak-framed

building for themselves. So, before the Addingtons placed their order, they drove to Hereford to look at Oakwrights’ face glazing system. This way of glazing sees double-glazed units secured to the outside of the timber in a way that offers flexibility in movement while maintaining an airtight, sustainable security blanket for your build. “After comparing it to a standard casement approach, we had no hesitation in choosing this for our garden room. It allowed us to make the most of the beautiful countryside views while creating a room that’s completely energy efficient,” says Jim.

It was important to Jim and Sharon to create a garden room that was in keeping with the character of their home, so they worked very closely with Oakwrights’ design team to craft an oak-framed room to their specifications.

Creating symmetry with the oak trusses was key for the couple, who chose to position one of the trusses centrally over a set of traditional, large double doors. This allowed the space to extend further and open up onto the

Above With its oak-beamed ceiling, the garden room has a light and airy feel. Right Large windows let in plenty of light and ensure beautiful views over the surrounding garden and countryside.

patio area. “We liked the way these doors can virtually fold back flat against the garden room, whereas traditional bi-folds would have encroached on the space,” Sharon explains. The windows were also designed to be symmetrical and balanced on opposite sides of the room. In fact, they were so keen to optimise their space, a late change was made to extend by an extra metre to allow for a large sofa.

The Addingtons couldn’t be more thrilled with their garden room. Not only that, but they are also genuinely surprised at how much use they get from the additional space. “We use it all year round,” says Sharon. “Whether that’s just for relaxing and watching TV or for entertaining guests and having family get-togethers, it tends to be where we congregate,” says Jim. “We installed a large wood-burning stove and underfloor heating to create a warm and cosy space in the winter, and it transforms into a relatively cool environment in the summer with the help of the face glazing system. It really is the room we use the most.”

Oakwrights, tel: 01432 353353; oakwrights.co.uk

Queens of Summer

Right now, sumptuous roses are starting to take centre stage in our gardens and Marilyn Stevens of Roses UK suggests ten of the best varieties to grow

If there is one fl ower associated with June it must surely be the rose. Right now, passionate rose growers are almost certainly assessing their collection and wondering if there is room for just one more. Those bewildered by the choice available could visit Roses UK (rosesuk.com), the publicfacing arm of the British Association of Rose Breeders, where you can whittle down the choice by selecting desired characteristics.

Marilyn Stevens, project manager at Roses UK has some advice to o er: “The ‘ankles’ of roses are not their best feature, so I always underplant with low-growing perennials,” she says. “Once my roses are established, there is no special treatment beyond extra water during dry spells. Those in containers receive top dressing and slow release fertiliser in spring.” Here she suggests a selection of performers across a range of types, from climbers to hybrid teas.

1 ‘Buff Beauty’

For lovers of a classic tea rose scent, ‘Bu Beauty’ is a fi ne shrub rose to choose. Marilyn grows this as an arching shrub but it does need space because it can grow to 1.5m in height and width. “In my south coast garden, its soft-apricot fl owers bloom from mid-May with a second fl ush in late summer,” she observes.

2 ‘Dunwich Rose’

“I love this rose because the single flowers are reminiscent of the wild dog rose – but it is much better behaved,” says Marilyn. It flowers just once, early in the year when its blooms are welcome. Also referred to as Rosa spinosissima ‘Dunwich’, like other wild roses it bears single flowers that are ideal for pollinators.

4 ‘The Generous Gardener’

This climbing David Austin rose bears large, pale pink flowers with a musky, myrrh scent. It reaches around 4.5m, so is suitable for doorways, arches and larger walls or fences. It doesn’t have to be in the ground, either: “I grow this in a large container, with a pinky-mauve clematis and Erigeron karvinskianus,” adds Marilyn.

3 ‘Belle de Jour’

“The current Rose of the Year and one of my newest acquisitions,” enthuses Marilyn, who grows this splendid floribunda rose in a container. Its blooms, which can reach 7cm across, are a cheerful, sunshine yellow, with a scent reminiscent of vanilla. In late summer, they will take on a peachy-orange tint.

5 ‘Champagne Moment’

“I appreciate this variety for its health and creamy-ivory blooms, which are prolific,” explains Marilyn. A floribunda rose renowned for its disease resistance, it bears luxuriant dark green foliage that offsets its pale apricot blooms well. Flowering until autumn, it is a robust shrub that works well placed in a large border.

6 ‘Felicia’

This is a hybrid musk rose bred in the 1920s by Romford breeder Joseph Pemberton. “This is one of the most imposing shrub roses in my garden,” notes Marilyn. It offers an early and profuse flowering of pale pink doubles and continues to bloom sporadically later in the season.

7 ‘Albéric Barbier’

This old rambler with soft yellow blooms is tolerant of a northfacing site. It will grow up to 6m and can hold its leaves until December, so it is ideal for clothing a wall or fence. “I have allowed my plant to entwine with neighbouring shrubs, so the flowers pop up in the most unexpected places,” remarks Marilyn.

9 ‘Blush Noisette’

This climbing rose is reputed to date from the 19th century. As far as climbers go it’s compact, suitable for a wall, fence or climbing support. It is repeat flowering, bearing neat, semi-double flowers scented with musk and clove. Marilyn grows hers in “a rather cramped position at the back of a border” on a rusted obelisk.

8 ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’

With an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, this is a hybrid tea with élan. Flowers have just a hint of pink on their pale petals and they are deliciously scented. This, combined with deep green leaves, makes it a popular choice. Marilyn grows it in a large terracotta container alongside other pale-hued roses.

10 ‘The Pilgrim’

Although ‘The Pilgrim’ is described by David Austin Roses as a medium climber, Marilyn grows this variety as a large shrub rose, where its densely petalled, lemon-yellow blooms mingle with those of a neighbouring philadelphus. “My plant is at least 20 years old, but it still flowers prolifically,” she maintains.

The large, bright flowerheads of Achillea ‘Sassy Summer Taffy’ have a substantial presence in the border.

Level Headed

Their colourful, flat flowerheads are the perfect landing pads for the pollinators that adore them, making achillea a sensible choice for those keen to attract garden wildlife, as National Collection holder John Cullen explains to Louise Curley