The importance of water in our gardens
Water is the life blood that supports all life on earth and is vital to any garden. The National Garden Scheme is partnered with WWT to promote a wider understanding of the importance of wetlands and water in nature and in our gardens – we share information on how to create mini-wetlands in our gardens and how to conserve water in the increasingly hot summers. With over 1,700 National Garden Scheme gardens mentioning water in their descriptions the importance of this life-giving element is clear.
From natural swimming ponds and stately rills to barrel ponds and water gardens in Belfast sinks, the variety of water in our gardens is inspiring. While water features provide fabulous depths to garden design, it also supports a wide variety of water loving plants and attracts wildlife too.
The importance of gardens and water:
• According to research there’s a greater acreage of gardens than nature reserves in England, that’s why in a changing climate our gardens are SO important.
• There are 23 million gardens in the UK, and each one, whatever their size, can play a part in reversing biodiversity loss.
• The parts of your garden which feature water support more life per area than any other habitat.
• Whether you have a balcony, a window box, an urban patch or an acre or more, start thinking of it as an eco-system in its own right and a steppingstone in connecting habitats to create wildlife corridors.
Be inspired!
Our lead image shows the garden in a suburban semi at 84 Higham Street in Walthamstow, London which opens for the National Garden Scheme on 18 August (click here for details). With so many of our gardens showcasing water in its myriad forms here are just a few more to inspire you.
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- The natural swimming pool planted with an edging of wild flower meadow mix and seating area at Highlands, East Sussex, opens on 15 June
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- Trench Hill garden, Gloucestershire, with view across the pond to the Cotswolds, opens on dates from February to September
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- A small water feature at 74 Bents Road, Sheffield opens by arrangement
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- A converted Belfast sink at Pen y Bryn, Carmarthenshire, opens by arrangement
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- A view over the pond to the house at Allington Grange, Wiltshire, opens 5 May
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- 11 The Gardens, opens as part of the Monmouth Gardens Group 19 May
For more information about our partnership with WWT and for inspiring content about water and gardens visit our WWT Partnership Page here
