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Water plays with your
senses, providing a point of interest or place for a sculptural art
object (see featured silver ball). Whilst not everyone is lucky enough
to have a river running through their garden, there are other options
for introducing water into even the smallest of outdoor spaces.
The Water element
features heavily in most gardens that I’m asked to design and build.
Waterfalls, ponds, streams, fountains, cascades, rills and horizon
pools (pools which are designed to appear to touch the horizon) are
just some of the ways that water can soothe the ear and catch the
eye.
Choice of type depends
upon the size and surroundings, placement and design specifics of your
outdoor space. Are you looking to provide a focal point or a hidden
natural environment for wildlife? It’s important to work out what you
want your feature to do for your garden and how it will look through
the four seasons.
Feature
Although there are no
hard and fast rules, I generally regard ponds as having wildlife of
some description and pools as being architectural areas of water in
their own right. The image shown to all intents and purposes is a pool
– all be it a rather grand one!
Small courtyards are
perfect for elegant water features as they cool the air temperature.
Small pools like the one in the Italianate courtyard (see photo) can
be finished with delicate detailing like mosaic tiles which lend the
courtyard a distinctive character.
Elements
When planning where to
place water within a garden there are a few key points well worth
remembering. Firstly, wildlife ponds are generally better off when
accompanied by some shade for the creatures living in it. However,
small ponds can easily get choked by falling leaves so place away from
large trees.
Deep water can be
hazardous for small children so keep depth to sensible limits and
place within eyesight of the house for peace of mind.
If you’re introducing
fountains or pumps you’ll need a power supply which should be fitted
by a qualified electrician. It’s also worth considering ‘lighting’ at
the design planning stage. When lit at night, a water feature can
provides an atmospheric space in which to chill out with friends.
Planting
For wildlife ponds
you’ll need to plan the edges of the pond, ensuring you have a shallow
gradient for part of the perimeter for migrating insects and frogs and
don’t forget shelving for aquatic plants which provide the wildlife
with not only food but a safe havens for breeding.
As a vital element of
any wildlife pond, planting also helps with the water quality.
Oxygenating plants like Water Violet and Hornwort help to keep water
clear of algal growth.
Materials
The relaxing sounds of
water tinkling across stone can soothe even the hardest day. Water
features can be constructed from a wide variety of materials in
sympathy with the rest of the property, from natural stone, to brick
or even glass or stainless steel – which reflect the light on the
water beautifully. In a rural setting large rocks and stonework can
lend a water feature a fantastic backdrop.
The Senses
Drinking from a fountain
on a summer’s day, feeling the pleasure of feet dipped in a stream or
simply listening to the sound of water cascading over rocks, water
catches our senses and leaves us with memories, an ever important
element of a well design garden.
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