Can you help me find a water feature?

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

I am planning a redesign of our garden after we complete our extension next summer. Nothing too drastic - budget is limited. It's a cottage garden so I'm thinking slate mixed sized paving, curved path and curved edges to the lawn. Every garden design book I read tells me I need a water feature and I really like the sense of calm and wildlife they attract. I have 2 young DDs (6yo & 3yo) who love splashing but must not be able to drown themselves in it. DH thinks they're all naff and a waste of money - so cheap and efficient would be good if it's to get past him! Pleas can you help?

[MaudantWit]

Reporting for duty!

I'm not hugely enthused by water features either, unless they're sizeable ponds. Could you do a rill running the length of the garden, maybe into a pool? That might look good in slate.

[funnyperson]

We don't have a water feature so I cannot advise but am happy to opinionate.

I love the sound of running water but dislike stagnant water and algae/frog spawn.

At the shows the nice ones are like colourful drain pipes in a zig zag along a wall, or sheets of water coming out of a linear spouty thing.

The old fashioned moss/stone lion head on a wall with water coming out into a shell shaped bowl, which birds can sip from, is always nice.

The metal spheres are cheap and child safe.

I want a large buddha with a lily pond.

However, water running down stair rails, with fountains, as at the Alhambra are my favourite water garden feature of all time.

The dolphin fountain at regents park (so long and thanks for all the fish) is also nice.

The stuff at Chelsea flower show is largely expensive naff tat.

At Hampton Court the water in the one show bath garden was in a series of rectangles and had stuff put into it to make it dark and reflective.

The solar water features are nice.

[funnyperson]

link here to 1000 water features that no one else has

www.primrose.co.uk/water-features-c-1.html?source=googleads&gclid=CKqRlMmA7r8CFSLnwgodfGkAMQ

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Thank you, I am glad to see my fellow gardeners are taking my dilemma seriously!

I like this:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31713480.html

Or this:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31713480.html

But for £800, DH thinks I am proper nuts...

[funnyperson]

???? Did you mean that link NANN?

[stealthsquiggle]

I have a lovely ceramic pot with a dished top which just gently overflows - it can be sat above a pool ( as it is now, the chickens and the cats all drink out of it!) or above cobbles over a hidden pool, which is entirely child safe. DH bought it from the woman who made it, years and years ago. I will have a hunt tomorrow and see if I can find something similar to show you.

[Rhubarbgarden]

Yy to Alhambra stair rails. And gushing fountains on a grand scale a la Villa D'Este. Failing this, a natural swimming pond would be glorious.

I'm not keen on small scale garden centre type water-features-in-box. They tend to go green and break and be generally high maintenance if not impossible to maintain and often look a teeny bit naff.

But water is always good for wildlife, so a simple wildlife pond is hard to dislike, as long as it is looked after.

[Crazy8]

Funnyperson I bought a water feature from Primrose and it developed a crack in the corner of the water reservoir. It was only a few weeks old and and you could see it was very poor assembly. I called the company and they said it was nothing to do with them and must have been my fault. It was very poor service and I was told to glue it back together. Pi wouldn't recommend them at all.

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Gosh, can you tell I've been at the tonight??

So my house is a bit like the one I accidentally linked to, except much nicer -at least it will be when we've done it up. It's all cutesy cottagey, so I can't go for anything sleek and modern or too grand.

I was thinking millstone

www.primrose.co.uk/-p-1467.html?adtype=pla&kwd=&gclid=CPPgn8GR7r8CFavHtAodQEQAIQ

I also like this:

www.water-features-shop.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3

But I want it to light up at night...

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Crazy - that is not good customer service. What happened to your water feature? Is it still going?

[tadpolefeet]

I'm not so keen on most water 'features'... but wouldn't be without our little wildlife pond (as you might tell from my name!). I get huge amounts of pleasure from the water lily flowers... And v cheap and easy. Dig hole, line with pond liner, cover edges with stones, get bits of plants from friends (plus a couple from teh garden centre... ) The birds drink from it, I've seen a couple frogs (not yet had it a full year) and a few weeks ago it suddenly went lovely and clear, as if it had suddenly all balanced itself out (if that makes sense!) It is only about 1m x 1m (if that...)

[funnyperson]

Pinterest has some lovely water features, especially a little 'mirror pond' round, very simple and perfect, and a metal reflecting bowl amongst box topiary
Not all of these are child friendly.
However the pipes from 'space to connect and grow' at hampton court garden festival are child safe

[Crazy8]

NitAnotherNewNappy Primrose told me to to use sealant or cement. To be honest my DH fixed the corner but it just started leaking from another corner. It was very very poor workmanship from the manufacturers.

It was meant it come with a light but when it arrived there was no light. They did give me £50 pounds back for that and also it arrived very late. Took around 6/8 weeks from order.

I think their water features are manufactured abroad and the quality inspection is non existent.

I would not buy from them again. You are better off buying your water feature from a company who prides their customer service a lot better.

[HaveYouSeenHerLately]

I've had bad customer service from Smart Solar when contacted directly about the design of my leaking feature. Nothing they can do apparently...

I like the idea of solar water features in principle. Mine is very relaxing when not dribbling its entire contents over the ground below

[Floralnomad]

Sorry but I have to defend primrose , my dsis bought me a water feature from them for my birthday ( over£100)as I admired her one and when it arrived the solar light was slightly off centre. My DH is a perfectionist and he called them and told them and they immediately sent out a replacement and didn't want the first one back ( so we now have a spare). My sister has had a few items from them and the customer service has always been first rate .

[Bearleigh]

How about this one with watering cans - of course you need suitable steps:

pilgrimandpie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/water-feature-with-watering-cans.html

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Love the watering cans bear!

I think I will go for some kind of mill stone design. I'm reluctant to order anything pricey online. And I will def have to fib to DH about the cost

[funnyperson]

Here are some other sites NANN

www.ukwaterfeatures.com/Shop/Water-Features/Water-Features/All-Water-Features.html?refid=ukwf1&gclid=CKecg7fehsACFU7MtAod0E8Avw

www.geoffs-garden-ornaments.co.uk/fountains.html

www.daveprestonartistblacksmith.co.uk/waterfeatures.htm

www.signaturehomesandgardens.co.uk/for-the-garden/water-features.html