Water Features

Throughout the last two weeks of May we are having our most exciting online competition yet!

Here is your chance to bag yourself a lovely water feature to sit proudly in your garden this Summer. The grand prize is a the Fortune Cup Lit Water Feature, a beautiful pre lit water feature that is fully self-contained and is made from durable resin-stone. Pre-lit with white LED lights in all five cups, this water feature will look amazing at night. 

We're not stopping there, the lucky winner who comes second will win one of our most popular water features. The 30cm Stainless Steel Sphere. This remarkable water feature is also fully self-contained and is made from high quality stainless steel. This shiny focal point is pre-lit by four white LED lights towards the top of the water feature giving it a lovely warm glow at night.

Hold on folks, there is one more thing. Ten (10) lucky winners who place third will be awarded a set of solar LED lights. A large set of 25 solar powered LED lights are a perfect addition to any decking or patio areas. 

How to enter:

Simply follow any link to our Facebook page, or click here

"LIKE" the page (it is vital that you 'like' the page in order to enter)

Click on the tab named 'May Madness' (located towards the top of the page, under the cover photo) If you are still on the old Facebook platform then the tab will be located on the left our wall under the profile picture.

If you have not 'liked' the page at this point, you will see an arrow pointing to the 'like' button.

Once inside the 'May Madness' tab, answer the provided question and fill out the small form containing your full name and email address.

Click submit, and you're done!

Make sure you have your creative cap on and enjoy guys!

Entries will be accepted until midnight 30/05/2012

Full Terms & Conditions can be found here

If you are someone who is interested in designing and maintaining your own landscapes and gardens, adding a pond to your garden is worth considering. A garden pond is a striking addition, offering a relaxing and soothing ambience to your outdoors. A garden pond or any water feature can definitely become the focal point of your garden and take pride of all the compliments that you receive from the guests. If you are planning to add a pond to your garden, you need to look into certain considerations, such as the type of garden pond, the location and size of the pond, and any additional water features such as fountains that you may want to add. This article intends to explore the advantages and features of pre formed ponds, a very popular and easy to installtype of pond.

Pre formed pond – an Ideal Choice for Beginners

A pre formed pond is often preferred by those who want to install a pond for the first time. Pre formed ponds are pre-made plastic or fiberglass ponds that you can simply insert into the ground after digging the ground in the shape of the pond. Compared to other forms of garden ponds such as pond liners/liner ponds and concrete ponds, adding a pre formed pond in your garden involves less labor costs, a shorter construction period, and reasonable maintenance expenses. A pre formed pond, in simple terms can be described as an instant and quick to install starter pond. They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes such as square, rectangle, circle and a range of other organic shapes.

Preformed ponds are favored by many house owners since they are the easiest way to bring a water feature into the garden or patio. Digging the ground of the garden in the shape of the pre formed pond shell is only the major work involved. All other necessary attachments and accessories are usually available with the pond kit making the job easy. Rigid liners with plant shelves come integrated with the pond. A pre formed pond kit may also contain a pump, a filter, water conditioners, etc. Adding a pre formed pond to your garden is not only easy but is affordable too. Since these ponds are highly durable and weather resistant, there is less tension about possible damage or other issues.

Before making your final choice regarding pond type, analyze what you expect from a garden pond and identify the reasons for your desire to install one in the first place. You may wish to combine a pre formed pond with a rock effect cascade or waterfall to add another element to your overall look. Whether you choose a geometric shape for a simple modern look or an organic shape with plants to go for a more naturalistic look there is a preformed pond to suit your needs. Defining your intention will itself solve your confusion regarding selecting the right type of garden pond. 

Installing a water feature is a great way to create a beautiful backyard with an enhanced look and feel. A finely designed garden water feature will sit in accordance with your garden providing an attractive focal point to your outdoor landscape. Besides inserting a little bit of nature to your exterior background, a water feature may also attract wildlife. Garden water features are available in all shapes and sizes, suiting varied budgets and tastes.

Both still and moving water features are alluring, adding a touch of tranquility and serenity to your garden setting. A still garden water feature offers brilliant mirrored images and a moving one is excellent in providing divine and relaxing sound as it gushes. A garden fountain is a popular kind of water feature worth consideration that compliments your landscaping. This article explores some of the popular garden fountain types that can be installed to spice up your garden.

Types of Garden Fountains

You will probably find garden fountains with endless styles, but choose the one that compliments your garden. A nice garden fountain can even be placed in and around your deck, terrace, pool area, front portico, etc.

Formal fountains are the most popular one if your garden boasts a proper pool or pond. These garden fountains can be used as a great addition to the existing pool. Jets of water shooting upwards from the middle of the pond are very appealing and can function by using the water from the pond. A submersible pump will make the job easy and solar-powered jet fountains are also available.

Wall fountains are a comparatively economical garden fountain option. Water will gush out from a wall opening, which sometimes will be designed in a novel manner, or from an animal statue or human figurine. This water feature will use the same water again and again since the poured out water is collected at the base for recycling. If your garden has a stone or concrete structure, a wall fountain can be integrated in a creative manner in the bare wall of these structures.

Cobble fountains are other great additions to your garden featuring water surging out over a group of cobbles or rocks with the help of water pumps. These waterfall designs can make your garden decor natural. Pedestal fountains are very popular as a focal point for your garden. This outdoor garden fountain is in the form of a basin that is perched atop a podium. These basins can be used alone and can be placed anywhere as birdbaths. Tiered fountains are ideal for big gardens and offer great visual appeal by offering a ripple effect of water.

If you are thinking of adding a water feature to instantly add a tranquil feel to your outdoor scenery, consider the right type for your garden, taking into account the space you have, the water sources in your garden, electric points etc. The right garden fountain can transform your garden into a relaxing setting instantaneously. 

UK Water Features stock wide range of garden acessories and garden decorations to suit all garden design needs. 

If you are someone who is interested in designing and maintaining your own landscapes and gardens, adding a pond to your garden is worth considering. A garden pond is a striking addition, offering a relaxing and soothing ambience to your outdoors. A garden pond or any water feature can definitely become the focal point of your garden and take pride of all the compliments that you receive from the guests. If you are planning to add a pond to your garden, you need to look into certain considerations, such as the type of garden pond, the location and size of the pond, and any additional water features such as fountains that you may want to add. This article intends to explore the advantages and features of pre formed ponds, a very popular and easy to installtype of pond.

Pre formed pond – an Ideal Choice for Beginners

A pre formed pond is often preferred by those who want to install a pond for the first time. Pre formed ponds are pre-made plastic or fiberglass ponds that you can simply insert into the ground after digging the ground in the shape of the pond. Compared to other forms of garden ponds such as pond liners/liner ponds and concrete ponds, adding a pre formed pond in your garden involves less labor costs, a shorter construction period, and reasonable maintenance expenses. A pre formed pond, in simple terms can be described as an instant and quick to install starter pond. They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes such as square, rectangle, circle and a range of other organic shapes.

Preformed ponds are favored by many house owners since they are the easiest way to bring a water feature into the garden or patio. Digging the ground of the garden in the shape of the pre formed pond shell is only the major work involved. All other necessary attachments and accessories are usually available with the pond kit making the job easy. Rigid liners with plant shelves come integrated with the pond. A pre formed pond kit may also contain a pump, a filter, water conditioners, etc. Adding a pre formed pond to your garden is not only easy but is affordable too. Since these ponds are highly durable and weather resistant, there is less tension about possible damage or other issues.

Before making your final choice regarding pond type, analyze what you expect from a garden pond and identify the reasons for your desire to install one in the first place. You may wish to combine a pre formed pond with a rock effect cascade or waterfall to add another element to your overall look. Whether you choose a geometric shape for a simple modern look or an organic shape with plants to go for a more naturalistic look there is a preformed pond to suit your needs. Defining your intention will itself solve your confusion regarding selecting the right type of garden pond. 

There is something about water that can calm even the most stressed person. It is perhaps the one reason why we all look forward to a steaming shower after a long day, or love to feel the sand at our feet as we watch the sunset over the sea. If you are a water lover and are truly soothed by its presence, then you could think of including an indoor water feature in your home to give you the constant source of relaxation you seek.

Indoor décor has developed such that you can easily have a water-based feature brought into your home. Almost instantly you can transform your study into a serene place to work in with a table top water feature. Often this requires a simple plug point and you will have a little fountain like structure chugging away on your table. You will find that it will help you work better.

You could also think of introducing an indoor fountain in your living room or even in the enclosed patio that you may have. Nothing like sitting beside it in the evenings with a cool drink in your hands and letting all those tensions of the day get washed away in its tranquil sounds. Indoor fountains can be of several kinds and can easily be customized to blend into your décor. You have large ones that can form part of the décor or individual pieces that can actually be moved around to suit your convenience.

Research has show that an indoor water body can bring about tremendous health benefits. For one, it can instantly calm you down, bringing down your blood pressure. It also acts as a mood enhancer and helps those with breathing or asthmatic problems to relax and slowly gain rhythm of their breathing. Water fountains tend to release negative ions that induce a sense of well being in the body. These ions are the same ones that are produced when one is one the beach, in front of undulating waves or under a waterfall where water is constantly flowing. These water bodies also produce a level of humidity in the nearby surroundings, making breathing smoother.

There are a range of water bodies that you can choose from depending on the room you would like to put it in. Choose something that comes with a night light for your bedrooms as this can then serve a dual purpose. You could also think of using one in the children’s room to help them sleep better at night and concentrate on their studies when needed. 

UK Water Features offers more than just water features with a wide range of garden ornaments, barbecues, garden furniture, garden lighting, wild bird feed and electronic pest control products.  

Solar power seems to be a topic in high demand at the minute, especially with increasing energy costs and the public becoming more and more economy friendly 'green'.  Running a water feature this season in your garden does not have to be a constant drain on your wallet, in fact it could be completely free. 

Smart Solar offer a wide range of garden water features and garden lighting. They differ from other manufactures as their features are completely solar powered. In simple terms, they require no connection to any mains and run only off the power given from the sun (daylight). 

Smart Solar products range from birdbaths to garden lights to fountains, regardless of the choice of feature they are sure to create a unique and pleasant atmosphere in any garden setting. Gentle and subtle sounds of trickling water flowing over the beautiful water features will attract wildlife to your garden. Each individual water feature is designed to create a relaxing and tranquil ambiance within your garden. 

Each of Smart Solar's beautiful designs contains a high tech solar panel. These are either within the design itself or on a separate solar stake to the side of the design. Due to the versatility of the designs and the compact panels the features can be positioned anywhere within the garden easily. Not having to worry about running lengthy cables to a main power source these features are ideal for gardens, patios, decking area or even inside conservatories.  

Example of a separate solar stake

The Solar on Demand technology is so advanced that energy is stored throughout the day giving you the added benefit of powering your birdbaths or water fountains throughout the night without having the need to use a mains as a source of power. The use of solar energy is a fantastic way to cut back on some electricity bills. 

Happy New year to everyone! We kick start 2012 by announcing the very anticipated 2012 Kelkay water feature range. All of the exclusive features are now in stock. 

Kelkay is the leading manufacturer and distributor of a huge range of garden features and landscape products that are suitable for all styles of gardens.  Kelkay have designed a remarkable range of garden features and garden accessories over the years. Their products are of superior quality and are designed to be durable and with stand the natural weather elements. Over the years Kelkay have added to their stunning product portfolio and this year they have not stopped. With the all new and exclusive 2011-2012 garden features range now readily available right here on our online Kelkay Water Feature Shop. 

The Kelkay Easyfountain is our leading water feature product line. All of the water features are self-contained and contain a safe low voltage LED light designed to add something special to the feature at night. Many of the features also include the water pump and all of the needed cables. The term ‘easyfountain’ comes from their install and set up simplicity. All you need to do is unpack, connect, fill with water and plug in. Sit back and enjoy your lovely new water feature in your garden. The huge easyfountain range contains designs that are suitable for all tastes. Weather your garden is traditional or contemporary, small or large there is an easyfountain that is suited to your garden.

The Trinity Fountain is one of the new 2012 additions to the Kelkay family, containing blue LED lights that add a beautiful tint to the falling water. A further sure to be popular water feature in the new 2012 Kelkay range is the Serenade Fountain. The particular water feature is more of an ornamental piece, but does contain lit flowing water that creates a wonderful effect.  

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

If you have never used or heard of Amazon Payments then here is a quick outline as to how it will benefit your overall shopping experience with us. With Amazon Payments we are able to offer our customers a quick, convenient and seamless checkout experience with Checkout by Amazon. Customers can complete purchases securely without sharing their payment information.

Amazon Payments is a trusted & secure method of online payment.

With Amazon Payments you will be able to purchase an item right here on the UK Water Features website without having to hand over any payment information. Offering you the financial confidence in your purchase with us. With the Amazon Payment method you maintain your Amazon A-Z guarantee, as you would do when shopping on Amazon its self.

Fast & convenient checkout

If you are one of the millions of Amazon customers then you will have the benefit of completing a fast and secure transaction without even having to re-enter any delivery or payment information. You simply log into your Amazon account from the checkout right here on the UK Water Features website. You will not even be re-directed to any other site when purchasing an item with us. With Amazon payments you also have the benefit of purchasing products through us using American Express (AMEX) as your choice of payment.

With the all-new Amazon Checkout, we are offering a familiar online shopping experience that is both fast and secure for all online users.

Thank-You and we hope that you enjoy this new option as part of our committed customer service promise to you.

When thinking of Christmas, many of us would not think water features. Well in fact an indoor water feature makes a perfect gift for a friend or loved one during the holiday season. When you think of water fountains it stimulates the brain into remembering past memories of mountain streams, bubbling brooks, waterfalls falling onto rocks bellow and even summer rains. Soothing sounds of falling water is a perfect natural sound to ease the mind day and night. 

With Christmas being a stressful period for us all, the soothing ambiance that an indoor water feature would provide might be the key to a stress free Christmas for some. After spending the entire day Christmas shopping or preparing the dinner on Christmas day by utilising the benefits from an indoor water feature may help ease your mind. It may seem a little far fetched, but believe me it works. 

There are many choices when it comes to indoor water features. Wall fountains, which can be mounted indoor or out, come in many sizes and styles. There are small wall fountains that can be mounted on any wall and large wall fountains that need a significant amount of space. Many of the indoor features are now available in various materials such as slate, marble and copper. Some features that include extra benefits such as mirrors around the water, trees inside the water all add to the general effect of the water feature. 

Table top fountains are the easiest and probably the most popular of the indoor water features as they are all easy to place around your home. They come in sizes small enough for a side table to being the main centrepiece. On some models the water comes from above and trickles down a series of steps and on some it flows down a smooth disk and lands on river rocks. Some of the features contain LED lights which will illuminate the water giving a beautiful mellow glow. 

Some of the more popular indoor features over the last few years have been the Orb indoor water feature. This is actually new this year, however it has been so popular that it is considered one the top selling indoor water features. With its stainless steel sphere, the water slowly trickles down from the spout at the top and gently falls on to the decorative pebbles below. The Ayanna indoor water feature has also proved to be a remarkably popular water feature amongst many of our customers. With a rotating glass ball and LED lights this is a very attractive and unique water feature. 

Which ever indoor water feature you choose, you can be sure that it will bring a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere into your home. 

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

We are pleased to have the exclusive preview of the new fountain range for 2012 from Kelkay, the UK’s number one choice for resin garden water features.

The new range includes Traditional, Classic, Bronze Reflection, Natural, Contemporary and Statuary.

Favourites from the new range and predicated best sellers for 2012 include:

A new version of the popular Fluted Tier Fountain with a stone effect finish, two flowing tiers and built in white LED’s at the top where the water bubbles out from. This fountain is suited to a more traditional garden and when running creates the soothing sound of falling water. RRP £169.99 (On sale from January 2012).

The Tree Cascade is a very realistic looking tree crag style water feature with built in LED lights. This would suit a well planted garden and actually looks like it is carved from a large tree stump. Water falls from the top and flows down a couple of drops before entering the drop pool at the base. Enjoy at night with built in white low voltage LED lights. RRP £199.99 (On sale from January 2012).

Contemporary water features have proved popular this year and we predict this trend will continue into 2012 as people opt for low maintenance modern gardens. The Serenade Fountain has a sitting lady and a well thought out mixture of resin and stainless steel. The lady’s head offers reflections around the garden and built in LED lights where the water bubbles out a superb effect at night. If you’re looking to add peace and tranquillity to your garden next year the Serenade Fountain is the one we would recommend. RRP £199.99 (On sale from January 2012).

Continuing the modern contemporary theme Kelkay has added the Vision Fountain, Garden Spring, Inspiration Fountain and Spirit Fountain to their range. If you have a big enough garden why not build the whole set into your design! 

The Friendship Fountain has proved to be our best seller for the past two years so we are excited to see a new smaller version to the larger model. The Companion Fountain stands at just less than 80cm making this suitable for smaller gardens and patio areas. Just like the Friendship Fountain the Companion Fountain has built in low voltage halogen lights and is fully self-contained. RRP £149.99 (On sale from January 2012).

As always the new fountains are all fully self-contained and can be set up within minutes of removing from the box. All you need is included, just connect the pump and lights, add water and plug in. It really is that simple.

To view the full range of Kelkay Water Features, click here. 

UK Water Features has the largest range of indoor and outdoor garden water features.

Over 5,200 proposals were submitted and Michael Arad's design chosen to remember nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks which took place in New York ten years ago to the day.

There are two water features, one on each site to represent World Trade Centre plaza are over an acre in size each and water glides down each side 30 feet making this the largest manmade fountain in America. 660,000 gallons of water re-circulate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The two fountains opened to the families of people who lost their lives on 9/11, it opens to members of the public on the 12th September 2011.

The names of those lost are etched in bronze panels around the edge of the water feature, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil. At night the feature is lit.

The chances of a late Indian Summer now look slim as forecasters warn that Autumns first storms could be seen next week. It is likely to be followed by floods and tornadoes in October, while winter's big freeze could start in November.

August was also the wettest month for a year, with rainfall up 30 per cent at close to 100mm, and one of the dullest Augusts ever recorded, with only 150 hours of sunshine.

Bearing all this in mind its time to add the finishing touches to your garden and also in the back of your mind start to plan ahead for when the weather turns and the temperature drops.

Last year saw temperatures drop to record lows, in the Scottish Highland a low of -27.5 degree was recorded.

Protecting items in your garden during winter is important. We suggest that all garden water features are completley drained of water and covered with a winter protection cover. Our best selling covers manufactured by Kelkay come in three sizes, Small, Medium and Large. We also offer Henri Studio winter protection covers.

If you can and the wiring allows you take the feature indoors to store during the winter months. This will prolong its life and mean that chances of any frost/ice damage are removed. Do remember though that even in a garage temperatures can drop below freezing point so the water will need to be removed from the water feature.

Its also a good time to clean the feature meaning that when the seaon begins again in February/March 2012 the feature can be put back into its place in your garden. Water Features can be cleaned with our Fountain Grime and Lime Cleaner and if you need to replace any bulbs we have both 5 watt and 10 watt spare bulb and covers packs.

If you have any questions about storing your water feature over the winter please email our customer care team and we can send you storage suggestions, email: info@ukwaterfeatures.com 

UK Water Features have the largest range of Indoor Water Features and Outdoor Water Features, fast free delivery on all orders over £40.00.

Water features can be a fantastic addition to any garden in order to enhance the general look feel, however they are also widely used across the globe to enhance much larger areas to create a visual spectacle where people are genuinely excited about the feature and will travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to see. 

Plans are currently under way in Dubai where they plan on building the worlds largest water fountain. The fountains, will be built in order to produce a remarkable spectacle where the water will shoot over 150 metres into the air and stretch over 275 metres. Estimated cost for this sensational project will be around $218 million. Spending such a large amount of money to build such a feature that is 25 percent larger than the iconic fountains at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas actually has its perks. The Fountains will include an integral light and sound show and will certainly become one of Dubai's major tourist attractions drawing in well over 10 millions visitors every year. One thing for sure, this water feature is going to need some very large fountain pumps. 

Dubai really seems like a brilliant place to visit and spot some truly remarkable water features. Even while you are out shopping at the Dubai Mall there is a stunning water fountain inside the shopping center. The Waterfall comprises two cylindrical structures, 30 metres in diameter and 24 metres high, with an overhead reservoir feeding the recycled water. Well-lit in the night and reflecting sunlight by day. A choice of coffee shops and retail kiosks overlook The Waterfall, giving visitors a relaxing ambience to meet. Several palm trees are also set up to replicate the ambience of a desert oasis, and various in-mall activities will be held around The Waterfall to sustain visitor interest.

There is a stunning water feature that is a must see for anyone who plans a trip top Dubai, situated under the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The dancing fountains run daily every 30 minutes from 7pm and are set on a 30 acre manmade lake. Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 25 coloured projectors, it is 275 m (902 ft) long and shoots water 150 m (490 ft) into the air (equivalent to a 50-story building), accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music. It cost over £180 million to build! 

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

As the summer starts to fade away and we move swiftly into the fall season we start getting less daylight we also start getting cooler evenings. Yet the fall weather we are still keen on spending as much time outdoors as possible we tend to stay closer to the comfort of our homes. Even in the the UK it is possible to enjoy the cooler nights on a fall evening by sitting out side on your deck or patio area. A key point to remember during this time is to be able to keep enjoying your gardens you should begin to  put your potted plants and flowers close to your patio are and bring the lighting closer. Sitting outside during the fall season is quite popular so if you have solar garden lights bring them closer into your patio or sitting area this way you will be able to benefit from outdoor lighting. 

If throughout the summer you invested in a birdbath for your garden then the fall season is a perfect time for you to embrace the sight and sounds of your feathered friends enjoying their new bird baths as the birds are preparing for the winter season. Enhance your water falls or water fountains  in your garden by simply adding a solar spotlight under it to bring the feature to life at night. You will be surprised how relaxing it can be sitting in your garden during the fall season. We all know that the temperatures will drop during the fall season so if you are planning on sitting outdoor then it may be wise to invest in a small patio heater or garden firepit to keep you toasty while you sit back and relax. Many of the patio heaters that are on sale are now eco-friendly and are available as ether gas or electric.

A quick note, towards the end of fall and when winter does draw closer be sure to remove any motorised parts from your bird baths or water falls so as not to damage them by any frost or below freezing weather if you are not using a heating system in them. A full guide on how to prepare your water features for the winter season will be posted close to the time. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy the rest of the summer in your gardens and take pleasure from all the hard work that you have put in over the season. 

With the recent hot weather and dry conditions it’s always advisable to check your garden water features and ponds to make sure they have plenty of water. Water from water features can quickly evaporate on a hot day.

If the pump is starting to make a noise then it’s likely the water level is low and the feature will need topping up. Water features can be topped up with a watering can or hosepipe. Ideally you can add a bit of water to the feature when watering plants at night.

To prevent the build-up of slime and grime (algae) we currently have two products that can be added to the water feature. Kelkay’s Fountain Algae Stopper is a powder additive which is added every couple of weeks into the feature. Smart Solar offer a more pet and wildlife friendly version (Fountain Fresh) which is produced using barley straw extract.

Solar powered garden features can be a very simple yet very cost effective enhancement to your garden. Many people are wanting to enhance the look and general appearance of their outdoor living area, especially now that the weather is finally picking up this summer and we are expected to have a nice few weeks this August. If you have not had a chance to get out in your garden so far this summer and give it some TLC then there are some simple solutions that can drastically improve your garden within a few hours.

The addition of Solar Outdoor Decking Lights can bring your drab, winter worn deck back to life. If you are looking for a sophisticated and professional look then solar decking lights would be a simple way to lighten up your deck or patio area at night. With the warmer summer nights sweeping in, we are all wanting to get out there as much as possible. So when the sun does go down, we can still sit outdoors and enjoy the lovely weather. Maybe invite the neighbors round for a small BBQ. Our most popular set of decking is the Solar LED Deck Lights (White). With no wiring required, these four white solar deck lights are easy to install and perfect to illuminate decking, pathways and borders.

The benefits of installing deck lights is that they are solar, meaning that no wiring is needed! Through the day, your solar deck lights are charged by direct day light once the sun goes down the lights will then use the generated solar power to illuminate your pathway, patio or decking area. Not only are solar lights GREEN, they will also help reduce your electrical expenses as they require no electricity, amazing.

solar water features are designed to operate in climates that do not always have a continuous amounts of direct sunlight. There is nothing greener than allowing Mother Nature to power your garden water feature.

Purchasing a solar water feature with a removable solar panel allows the owner to place the solar panel in an area that receives significant direct sunlight even if the water feature itself does not receive adequate direct sunlight. This allows the owner more choice in where to locate the solar water feature within the garden.

By recalculating water, solar water features conserve water while also saving money. Gathering the energy of the sun to power the water feature allows the owner to constantly recalculate the water at absolutely no cost. By keeping the water moving, the solar water feature reduces algae growth and thus reduces the need for algae removal products. In summary, solar water features create a lovely and tranquil oasis while still being an entirely green choice for eco-conscious gardeners.

When installing any solar garden feature a small amount of planning needs to be put in place prior to installing any of the features. When installing a solar powered garden light It is a good idea to place the lights in an area where you know you get a good amount of day light. As they do not need constant daylight it is recommended to give the panels as much as possible to provide them with as much power as possible. For them to charge, they need light so it would not be recommended to place them in a known dark area throughout the day. Even though the lights will charge in a partially shaded area, they will shine brighter at night if they have received good contact with direct daylight throughout the day. Installation and maintenance efforts will also be significantly reduced as they require no wiring.

When considering installing a water feature in your garden there are many things to consider, location, size, garden pond, water fountain, wall mounted, free standing etc. One thing that needs some extra consideration is the safety of young children. When installing a water feature the safety of our young ones needs to be a priority. Even if you do not have children, consider your neighbours children. There are some parents that wish to avoid the risk completely and choose not have a water feature in their garden and then are some who have one and have actually turned there pond into a small sand pit for the time being or until their children have grown to be trusted around water. By completely removing all water features from your garden however is not always needed. There are several safety precautions that can be made to make your water feature child safe. In fact many of the self contained water features are now designed to be child safe straight out of the box. 

Garden Safety Around Water Ponds. 

When it comes to the safety of our children, we will take all sorts of measures to make sure that everything is safe and secure. Safety in the garden extends to everything when considering to place a garden pond or water feature in you your garden. Things to consider are the depth of water, access to the water pumps, lights and electrical systems that may be associated with the feature. An obvious point to make is that the overall safety of the feature in your garden largely depends not the kind or size of water feature you place in your garden. For example, a large 1400 litre capacity preformed pond will provide significantly more risk than a 65 litre capacity garden pond would. Simple precautions can be taken to reduce the risk and increase the safety of of your garden when it comes to small children. 

Placing a fence around your pond to stop children getting in is a good solution.

Alternatively, you can now buy purpose-made rigid mesh. This can then be fitted over the water.  One thing to remember when fitting these mesh covers is that they need to be fitted correctly. A secure and safely fitted mesh cover will have no loose edges or sagging centres. 

While these sorts of safety precautions can let the whole family enjoy a traditional garden pond without too much worry, there are other alternatives that offer even more   safe forms of water features that give children the pleasure of sounds and sight of free flowing water.

Water Features

 Small, self-contained water features are an alternative to your garden ponds. Many water features on todays market are very easy to install and require little knowledge about water features. These are call 'Easy Fountains' and are simply 'plug and play' garden features. As they need little in the way of installation apart from deciding where you would like to place it. 

With thousands of different designs now available, such as  small cascade sets made up of terracotta pots, these are lovely waterfeatures that splash a small amount of water onto terracotta stone. Wall mounted water features are a fantastic way to have a water feature in your garden whilst keeping your children safe. So long as the feature is mounted at a height that can not be reached by the children. The safest kinds are the ones that have only a very little depth of water and the water pump is internal and hidden away.

With the advancement in technology over the past few years many self-contained water features are now solar powered. One key benefit to these solar powered water features is that you can drastically reduce the risk to children as these features run on solar power, meaning that there are no wires or power supplies. Many of the new solar features now store solar energy throughout the day and are then able to use that energy at night. Perfect for those warm summer evenings sitting on your patio or decking area. 

This weekend saw the end of Tatton Park Flower Show which runs each year for the last week in July.
Many gardens at the show incorporated water features.
Envirolink North West’s Futureproof garden features a simple 100cm square galvanised grid placed on top of a pre-built raised bed. Inside the pool a water feature pump has been placed, we would suggest using a Libel 900 Water Feature & Fountain Pump to create the bubbling effect seen in the photos. Several larger pebbles have been scattered around the head of the fountain to disguise the black plastic pipe. One of the most simplistic of water features but ideal for contemporary gardens and where a strict budget is important. Envirolink North West won a Silver Award for their garden.
                                                                  

Green Vision Garden Design named their garden ‘Minimal Impact’. We certainly agree the brief has been met. The garden is surrounded by lush greenery and centrally straight lines and a mix of materials and colours used complement each other well. The designers have used three custom made water features. Each made from black granite and having a bubbling fountain built into the top. The three bubbling granite cubes create a soothing sound of lapping water making this seating area perfect for outside entertaining.
Green Vision Garden Design achieved a Silver Award for their garden.
                                                                  
The sound and movement of water add another dimension to gardens and draw you to a space where you can spend time relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
UK Water Features  has the largest range of water features, pond pumps, pond liners and water feature accessories needed to create your own water feature.

The use of natural slate garden features over the years has been somewhat over looked and you may find it a little hard to find much information on slate water features and their origin. Slate is commonly used in many well known items such as roof slate. In fact one of the most common uses of slate is in some unique designed water features.

Many of the water features that are made from natural slate are sourced right here in the UK. The use of slate in a unique range of slate monoliths, slate holloliths and slate pyramids are actual manufactured by hand in the welsh mountains. Click 'here' to see photos taken at our Quarry in Bangor, North Wales. Welsh Slate is based in North Wales and is the world's leading manufacturer of high quality roofing slate, architectural and aggregate slate products. The durability of welsh slate is one of its key benefits whether you are designing a landscape masterpiece, building or even a water feature for your garden the slate provides you with a guarantee that it will withstand the natural elements. Welsh slate with its professional lines and versatile characteristics offers you the most beautiful balance of elegance and durability. Whether your garden is a contemporary or a traditional design, Welsh slate is in fact one of the few natural products which gives you a constant balance across a variety of designs. One of the more popular garden slate water features is the 4ft Drilled Slate Monolith which boasts a large naturally drilled piece of slate exclusively designed for you. All the slate water features here at UK Water Features are hand made here in the UK from Welsh Slate and are pre-drilled offering every single monolith to be completely unique.

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

Today sees the day where we launch our largest giveaway yet. Join us on Facebook to enter this months fantastic prize giveaway. Over the past few months we have had some brilliant competitions run through our Official Facebook page and our Twitter page where some lucky winners have walked away with some simply beautiful prizes. One of our most popular water features, the 50cm Stainless Steel Sphere was up for grabs last month for the lucky winner. 

This month we are doing something a little different. There will not be just one winner this month, there will be three! Yes, you heard it right this months fabulous Facebook competition there will be three lucky winners.

We are not giving away some small prizes here either guys, some of our most popular and best selling water features are up for grabs. Starting with the Orb Indoor Water Feature which is a lovely indoor water feature that sits perfectly on any kitchen table or living room table. We are also giving away the Nature Glow Love Birds Lit Water Feature, a smiply stunning water feature to add to any sized garden or patio area. And finally the big one, the top prize is the Greek Jug & Jars water feature. I don't want to give too much away about this water feature, so all I will say is that is beautiful. 

To enter the competition simply follow this link to our Facebook page, click the "Like" button at the top and then answer the provided question. 

"In as few words as possible, use your creative minds to describe the Greek Jugs & Jar water feature" Simple as that. 

The top three winning selections will be awarded the prizes and their descriptions will be placed on our Facebook and Twitter pages as well as on our website. 

Competiton begins today and runs through till 02/08/11. The winners will be announced on 03/08/11. 

Good luck to everyone! Now go get creative.  

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

When it comes to high quality craftmanship, many people turn to the specialists known as Haddonstone. Now if you are unaware of who or what Haddonstone is then you may find these short paragraphs very interesting.

Haddonstone was established in 1971 to produce high quality decorative cast stonework. At first they had a small range of just seven cast stone designs to offer during the first year of business. Over the years Haddonstone have become more and more successful and have constantly added new lines to the original seven. Their collection of high quality garden ornaments and architectural cast stonework has expanded to well over five hundred standard cast stonework designs. Today, Haddonstone is recognized as an international market leader with group companies in both the UK and the USA

Now what exactly is Haddonstone? a unique form of hand made cast limestone with a surface texture similar to natural Portland stone. The cast limestone material matures and weathers like natural stone or quarried stone yet, piece for piece, normally costs significantly less than quarried stone.

Haddonstone has the ability to mould cast limestone material into almost any shape, thus giving their customers the opportunity to own a one off garden feature, a simply unique piece.

Haddonstone use nothing but the very best of materials in order to design and manufacture their pieces. In fact the cast limestone material used in every design exceeds the compressive strength requirements of the United Kingdom Cast Stone Association and complies with all relevant UK and European standards, whilst TecStone also meets the requirements of all US standards.

Haddonstone take great care in their designs as every single piece is handmade here in the UK using special moulds that are created specifically in shops and studios across the UK. Where some features maybe handmade in the USA you can rest assure that the same amount of care has gone into each and every single design.

As mentioned, Haddonstone has expanded their product line extensively over the years. Starting with seven unique designs they have now well over five hundred. Some of the more popular features in the Haddonstone range include garden bird baths and garden ornaments. The Haddonstone range provides attractive garden features for all tastes and garden sizes. Their range of garden fountains is simply remarkable. The large range of Centrepiece garden fountains and water features provide a truly magical focal point to any garden or landscape, whether traditional, classical or contemporary. Haddonstone's range of self contained water features is certainly a strong candidate for their most remarkable features. With such a wide range of self contained features that are suitable for any garden. Over the years, self contained water features and freestanding fountains became more and more popular for use in gardens and terraces and not just in larger landscaping developments or business parks. The combination of Haddonstone's history, the unique and reliable materials used in each design and their overall desire to provide their customers with a simply beautiful garden feature that will last the test of time Haddonstone has truly deserved their spot as one of the worlds top international garden feature specialists.

UK Water Features is a proud supplier of Haddonstone garden features, stocking some of their most enjoyable and beautiful garden products. 

Kelkay is one of the most respected names in the garden features market, and when they announced the launch of the Kelkay Easy Fountain many suppliers across the UK were extremely eager to get on board. With everyone now a days having such a busy and hectic schedule, we tend not to have that much spare time to sit down on the weekends and build a water feature from either scratch or from some lengthy instruction manual. With the development of the Kelkay Easy Fountain this problem was instantly solved. Now everyone has the time to install a easy fountain becasue of the simplicity of the install. May sound a little cliché however, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

Kelkay entered the market over 9 years ago with a mission to change, stimulate and inspire the garden centre industry.

By applying "retail solutions" to previously neglected categories such as garden aggregates, decorative paving, Kelkay then created promotional point-of-sale, merchandising units and display stands, resulting in a dramatic rise in popularity on these garden categories.

These successful retail solutions have also been applied to fountains, garden features and garden ornaments. In fact today's market sees the Kelkay easyfountain® range the UK's number 1 brand of garden water features.

*This is an image that was sent in from one of our customers, it is the water pump boy and girl water feature*

The Kelkay Easy Fountains are all made from durable resin-stone, are self contained, with no need for a permanent water supply. The Easy Fountains are all easy to unpack and assemble and best of all they need no tools and no experience. One of the most popular Easy Fountains is the Kelkay Friendship Fountain. This is truly a remarkable water feature and add a simple yet very elegant look to any sized garden. With the inclusion of the safe low voltage lights inside the water feature, it really comes to life at night. 

So as mentioned before, they really are as simple as 1,2,3 to install 

1:Unpack your new garden water feature from its packaging by simply removing it from the box and taking of the protective wrapping.

2: Fill the self contained water tank with water

3: Plug your beautiful new water fountain into the mains

Then all you have to do is sit back relax and admire all the hard work that you just put into installing that lovely water feature in your garden.

Here at UK Water Features we stock the entire range of KelKay products including the 2011 KelKay Easy Fountain range. 

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

Having a water feature in your garden can create a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere where you can sit and enjoy your lovely garden. If you are one of those hands on people, who prefer to get the satisfaction of starting from scratch on a project to achieve a sense of accomplishment with the outcome then creating your own water feature is actually not that tough.

The concept of flowing water transforms the ambience of a garden. It doesn't really matter where the source of the moving water is coming from this is all personal preference. Whether it’s a garden pond or a spectacular flowing cascade water feature, the end result is the actual the sight and sound of flowing water that provides triggers a response of our senses. An important factor to consider is the actual placing of the water feature as once it is placed and water is flowing, you really do not want to be moving it around all that much. A couple of perfect ideas to consider are areas of your garden that is partially shaded, sheltered from wind and of course where the water feature can be appreciated by yourself and others.

What you need?

All in all it is actually quite simple and there is no need for you to be a garden designer or some sort of water feature specialist in order to construct. All recycling water features, i.e. those that circulate their own water feature. As with many self contained water features that recycle from a reservoir via a pump through a decorative feature, they are actually mostly constructed in a similar way whether they be freestanding, flush with the ground or even a wall-mounted feature.

To create a basic garden water feature of your very own the essential building kits consists of: a reservoir, which is filled with water; a submersible pond pump (plus attachments if you are creating a fountain effect). Obviously you’ll also need some sort of tools for digging out the hole (if the reservoir is below ground), and a spout with extra hose if the out-flow is elevated above the reservoir, and a nearby electricity supply.

A note to remember is that even though the submersible pump recycles water, the reservoir will need topping up every now and then (especially during days of warm or windy weather). Water features generally use pumps which run off low-voltage electricity. Remember though that they all need to be plugged in in-doors and always use a residual circuit breaker (RCB).

It is possible to create a simple water feature with a small budget. So unless you are thinking of creating a luxurious cascade water feature with expensive rocks or millstones then this may be a double if not more. To keep things simple, here is a shopping list to create a lovely yet simple water feature in your garden.

�� Small pump
�� Butyl pond liner and reservoir tank or pebble-pool reservoir
�� Steel mesh
�� Cobbles

First dig in your reservoir.

Next cover the reservoir with heavy gauge steel mesh and supporting timber if needed.

Attach a pipe to the outlet of the pump, and pass it through the mesh to the fountain head.

Position the head and arrange some stones so that the head is held in place and can’t be seen.

The flow rate will need to be adjusted by a valve on the outlet pipe of the pond pump so that water sprays out of the fountain, washes over the stones and back into the reservoir.

To build a raised water feature could potentially be a little more expensive depending on the actual fountain head that you decide on. This kind of water feature could also be constructed in a day. To construct a raised water feature you will need:

�� Medium-sized pump
�� Reservoir tank
�� Steel mesh
�� Fountain head
�� Cobbles
�� Length of hose

In order to construct this kind of water feature the reservoir needs to be big enough/deep enough to hold water feature pump. If free-standing, you could choose an attractive container such as a water tank or large ceramic pot. If not then it can be concealed behind a low wall or behind an arrangement of flowers

Place the new water feature pump in the tank and attach a long piece of flexible hose to the outlet pipe.

Cover the tank with a piece of steel mesh and thread the hose through it. (Same as before)

Then run the flexible hose up to the fountain head.

Disguise the pipe work by running it behind a batten attached to a fence post.

If the water feature is built against a wall, embed it into the brickwork.

Cover the steel mesh with a layer of decorative garden pebbles.

Adjust the flow rate so that water sprays/flows into the reservoir.

Choosing the correct pump really depends on what your intentions are. With such a wide range of water feature pumps available, it will certainly be to your benefit to doing a little research on which pump will suit your water feature.

One final note, as we know water and electricity are a potentially lethal combination, so when conecting our new feature to the mains don't forget to make sure that any mains supply to the garden is protected by an RCD, preferably at the house fuse box.

Sit back, admire your new water feature and relax in your garden. Job well done!

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

Many of us may have a water feature in our garden; it may be placed in the prime spot, a real focal point. But ask yourself this question, is my water feature being displayed to its full effect? For example, is your water feature complimented by little touches that enhance its natural beauty?

Simply adding a few touches here and there go a long way when it comes to perfecting a garden display. Starting off with the basics, simply adding some decorative garden pebbles to surround your water feature is a great way to enhance the surrounding area of the feature. With such a wide range of colours available you certainly can jazz up the bedding of the water feature with ease. Garden aggregates have been around for a long time, people have been using them to enhance their gardens for years. No surprise really, such a simple addition can add so much.

Garden ornaments are also a fantastic way to bring your garden to life. Simply adding one or two garden ornaments such as garden gnomes, gargoyles or even the increasingly popular cheeky rascals to the bed of your water feature is sure to add to that complete look that you are going for. Garden gnomes have recently become the ‘it’ thing to have in your garden this summer. I know, you may be thinking that this is a thing of the past. However, with the popularity of the hit film ‘Gnomeo &Juliet’ customers have been filling their gardens with the rosy cheeked characters. They are also great for the kids too! The cheeky rascals popularity are also on the rise, these fascinating little ornaments all come with their own unique story to tell, which will certainly keep the kids entertained.

Moving on to illumination, giving your water feature that all important spot light look is essential if you are looking to fully complete your beautiful water feature and enhance its natural beauty even at night. If you are one for outdoor entertaining, then you are going to want to keep your water feature lit for all to see. Placing a couple of garden spot lights in your fine tuned water feature bed will complete your goals of fully enhancing your water feature. The soft light from the spot lights provide a unique look to every water feature. Where everyone’s gardens are different, the soft light will provide amazing shadow effects across your entire garden while the light bounces of the reflecting water.

You’ve already done the hard work – we’re just suggesting you show it off!

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

If you are sat in your garden this summer looking out onto your lawn or patio are thinking that your garden looks fantastic, your grass is cut to perfection, flower beds are groomed and blooming beautifully, your garden ornaments are all on display, birds are enjoying your generosity and are bathing in the birdbath you provided them, however you are sat there thinking that there is something missing, it is just missing that final touch. Well, to be honest that final touch can be as simple as adding a garden fountain to your design. A garden fountain provides a main focal point to your garden, a place where when you enter your eyes are immediately drawn to.

Not only do garden water fountains provide that certain wow factor that you may be looking for, they are also a great feature to add to your garden if you are looking for a soothing and mellow sound of trickling water around your garden. There is such a wide range of garden fountains available in today’s market. With so many fountain pumps also available, there are endless displays that can be created.

If you thinking that your garden is far too small for a water fountain then take a look at a smaller water fountain such as the floating lily fountain. This small and tidy water fountain simply sits in the middle of your water pond and offers three different fountain heads to vary your display. This water feature is also solar powered, so it operates from the use of energy from the sun. Very little operating costs. If you are looking for something a little bigger to fill your open space in your garden, then consider a larger water feature such as the terrace pond. This water feature is a great addition to any garden and offers a simple yet very effective look to your garden. T

The good thing about water garden fountains is that there are so many available in the market today, the range of fountains is so large that they really are suitable for all types of garden or patio areas. Fountains ranging from the very small and compact to the luxury fountain like the four tier renaissance fountain in a Toscana pool. At just under 9 feet in height the Four Tiered Renaissance certainly is a large fountain and available in a range of quality finishes and comes complete with Toscana Pool.

Then there is the top of line water fountain, luxurious and elegant water feature such the Grande Palazzo Fluted Fountain, One of Henri's largest water fountains the Grande Palazzo is suited to the larger English country garden as a wonderful centre piece.

As you can see, there are so many different water fountains out there, so if you are sitting on your deck wondering what your garden is missing. Take a look at a few water fountains and explore the amazing possibilities. 

UK Water Features has over 1000 water features online, including a large range of resin water features, solar water features and indoor water features.  

Water Features are a great addition to any garden, whether your garden be contemporary and large or small and traditional the addition of a water feature in your garden is certain enhancement. When your choice for a water feature is a mile long, ranging from resin water features, stainless steel water features, stone water features, indoor or outdoor water features then you have the solar water features. The list just goes on and on. To narrow down your search a little here are the top 5 selling stainless steel water features. 

 #1 100cm stainless steel sphere water feature One of our best selling water features just got bigger

#2 2ft Advanced Three Polished Tubes Water Feature with Lights A set of brushed stainless steel tubes lit up by an array of LED lights including a 7 mode colour changing LED base light! Perfect for any home or garden.

#3 60cm stainless steel sphere package An incredible package including a 60cm stainless steel sphere, heavy duty pebble pool and 2,000 litres per hour pump. A must for any garden!

#4 Double Sphere Stainless Steel Water Feature Two can be better than one! Water flows over the top sphere and onto the second in this beautifully relaxing water feature.

#5 Large Stainless Steel Mushroom Water Feature With White LED Lights A modern contemporary stainless steel mushroom styled water feature with simple reflections and soothing sound complete with white LED lights.

Stainless steel water features add an amazing focal point to the garden. Your garden certainly does not have the contemporary look, these water features fit in with the tradition setting also. As many of the water features come with built in LED lights, they are a perfect addition to a darker area of your garden as well as adding that peaceful ambiance to your garden this summer.  

UK Water Features has over 1000 water features online, including a large range of resin water features, solar water features and indoor water features.  

Alan Titchmarsh is a popular gardening expert successful broadcaster and novelist.

Best known for fronting BBC’s Gardeners' World and Ground Force, he’s also completed nearly 40 gardening books and has twice been named Gardening Writer of the Year.

Alan has presented Points of View, Pebble Mill, Songs of Praise and Titchmarsh's Travels and has written several novels including Only Dad and Mr Macgregor as well as his memoirs Trowel and Error and Nob but A Lad.

He was appointed an MBE for his services to horticulture and broadcasting in the 2000 New Year Honours list.

Alan has also been immortalised at Madame Tussauds, is the voice of Gordon the Garden Gnome on CBBC and enjoys sailing. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and family.

 This Friday sees the season opening of Alan's show on ITV 'Love Your Garden' starts on Friday, 10 June 2011, 8:00pm to 8:30pm for 8 weeks.

With many water features and garden buildings on display the show provides a fantastic opportunity to for viewer to see the creative gardens from across the UK. Alan does a fantastic job by making this differ from the standard gardening show, rather than running up and down country estates or celebrated public gardens, Alan focuses on the gardens of Britons who have turned their plots into beautiful outdoor living areas. The show is an idea watch for those people who think that they are limited by space in their garden and feel that little can be done to enhance garden or patio areas. Alan will demonstrate how to transform such situations into a bright and beautiful garden.

UK Water Features has over 3500 products online, including one the largest supplies of water features and garden in the UK

By now we all know that adding a water feature to our gardens dramatically enhances the overall look and feel of the garden. Now many water features are coming with built in lights. Simply by placing one or two LED lights inside the water feature offer you a new world of exciting shadows and reflections from a once dim and glum corner of your garden.

   Garden water features with lights are a perfect addition to an area of your  garden that tends to lack a little light at night. Simply by placing the water  feature in the desired corner will dramatically enhance the effect the water  feature has on your garden. Most lit water features are provided with a low  voltage LED or hologen bulbs that offer the perfect amount of light to bounce off  the shimmering water to create a very unique effect.

 What is the difference between LED and Halogen bulbs?

 In all fairness there is not that much of a difference between the two. LED (light  emmiting diode) lights produce light when an electrical current is run in an arc  pattern between two electrodes. Halogen lights produce light by heating up a  tungsten filament. That is probably the bigest difference between the two. LED  lights will gernerally last much longer than halogen lights. Halogen lights typically last for anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 hours. Finally, halogen bulbs tend to be a little less expensive. Something to consider when deciding on which of the two.

All water features are child safe so there is no need to worry about the little ones. If you are sat there thinking that the addition of all this lighting to a water feature must mean that the install is going to be a nightmare..well no, not really. The install is so simple and in fact is no different to a regular watefeature without any lights. You simply unpack the water feature, remove the packaging, place it where you feel you will get the most satisfaction or where you feel that it will complement your garden the most, run a wire to the mains, plug in and enjoy a beautifully lit garden water feature.

Some of the more popular garden water features with interior lights are the Friendship Fountain, the Harmony Fountain and the Arched column Bowls all by Kelkay. These water features offer the perfect amount of light to complement any garden.

UK Water Features has over 3500 products online, with over 1000 water features. 

With the advancements in technology you can now enjoy the relaxing ambiance of a water feature in your very own back garden completely hassle free. Solar water features are a great way for you to enhance the general look and feel of your garden without having to worry about installation or wires.

How do solar powered water features actually work?

The word 'solar' means something that feeds on the energy from the sun, so in the terms that we are discussing here the water features are powered by the sun.

The diagram below demonstrates how the sun can power general appliances. What happens is that the sun hits what we call a solar panel which will store and transfer the energy from the sun to your appliances, or in our case our water features.

By using the sun as an energy source for your water features this essentially means free energy to you. You will be able to power your waterfeatures completely free of charge. Sounds good, but what is the catch? you ask. Well there really isn't one. It is a fantastic advancement in technology that is certainly catching around the world. From powering small appliances such as a fan in your home to larger objects like your entire home or office building to even powering airplanes and boats. As time goes by the technology advances as does the demand for this increasing popular, solar power.

Garden water features are certainly not a thing of the past; there is still a massive demand however there are now thousands of beautiful designs available as solar powered garden features. Perfect for the environmentally friendly consumers who wish to reduce their carbon footprint.

Installing a solar powered water feature in your garden is as simple as 1, 2, and 3.

1. Open your new water feature from its packaging and remove all protective wrapping

2. Place your water feature in an area of your garden that you know receives a good portion of daylight (it is not recommended to place your solar water feature in a completely shaded area of your garden)

3. Fill with water, and enjoy!

Here are some beautiful examples:

UK Water Features has a huge selection of water features, garden ornaments, garden furniture, garden lights, aggregates and BBQ's please feel free to stop by our online store.

Well that is May over and done with which can only mean that we have more winners to announce!! 
This month’s competition generated a massive interest on our social networking sites with a grand total of 1247 people entering the competition. No surprise really when the prize was the Chiminea Burner 112cm (Black) a truley fantasic  prize that is certainly suitable for all gardens. After the hugely anticipated build up to the draw on Facebook and Twitter the winner was Jannet from Blackpool. So a huge congratulations goes out to her. Your chiminea is on its way. 

This month has also seen some fantastic photographs of our customers gardens being submitted. Overall we had roughly 35 pictures submitted for the monthly wine draw. May's winner was drawn yesterday afternoon as Patricia from Northumbria. So another huge congratulations from everyone at UK Water Features goes out to her.

Here is Patricia's garden that she submitted

Congratulations to you both! Stay in the loop through Facebook and Twitter for more competitions and thank you all for your submissions 

First of all what is social media? Well in simple terms social networking is a word that has been thrown around a lot in recent years, it is a platform such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that is used to bring together people who share common interests and enjoy dicussing and sharing ideas with one another.  That being said, UK Water Features would like to invite you to join the thousands of people currently following us on our social media networks. The social media phenominon is a great way for you to keep upto date with what is is going on with UK Water Features. Been a member of our networks on either Twitter or Facebook (or both) you will recieve exclusive offers, competitions, information and engaging conversations with fellow garden and water feature enthusiasts.

To hop on board our social media bandwagon simply follow these easy directions and you will be imediatly connected to thousands of people just like yourselves.

For Twitter simply click @waterfeatures and then click on the 'Follow' tab, simple.

For Facebook simply click here to be directed to our Facebook page where you will notice at the top of the page a 'Like' tab. Click and enjoy the benefits of being part of our social media networks.

Social media is a great way for you to interact with people who share a common interest. Along the way you will recive the benefit of exclusive discounts, competitions as well as free tips and tricks to help you enhance your gardens.

We look forward to seeing on board soon! 

If you are not familiar with Henri Studio water features then this will be a really interesting read. There is a overwhelming sense of elegance that a Henri Studio water feature brings to one’s garden. With a company with a brand like Henri Studio's there is no wonder that these water features are one of the most sought after centre pieces in many gardens across the globe.

Tuscany, in central Italy, is known for its olive oil, wines and beautiful scenery. It is also the cultural heart of Italy. Centurineri  Prosperi, the founder of Henri Studio came from this area, but emigrated to the United States more than sixty years ago.

A sculptor in cast stone and marble, Prosperi brought his rich heritage of old world artistry to America and began a small business in the basement of his home. Early on he developed a method of combing time honoured sculpting techniques with stone casting technology, enabling him to mass produce extremely durable, artisan quality statuary and cast stone creations.

Today more than 40 years later Henri Studios is the world’s largest manufacturer and designer of fountains and garden décor.

Henri Studio has built up a worldwide reputation for quality, durability and original design. Some of the key characteristics of a Henri Studio water fountain are their exciting and original designs, the rich sculptured detail that goes into each piece, the efficiency and reliability of the fountains and lastly the quality of the materials used in each features is guaranteed to be of the finest and purest quality that will stand the test of time.

Henri Studio fountains are all manufactured in their 125,000 square foot state of the art factory in Wauconda Illinois, in the United States of America.

One of the more popular fountains from henri studios is the Low Equinox Fountain Water Feature, a fantastic water feature. Check out the video below to see the beauty of the Low Equinox Fountain.

Adding a fountain to your garden is a great way to increase the overall look of your garden, creating a unique focal point or centre piece to your garden. Henri Studio offers a wide range of different designs that are sure to suit any garden of any size. With products ranging from large and luxurious such as the Grande Kensington Three Tier Fountain in Toscana Pool to the smaller yet just as beautiful such as the Alfresco Fountain.

These fountains are certainly a step above the rest in terms of quality, design and engineering.

With summer coming up quickly it may be worth considering a little shift around in your garden to create a new and relaxing feel to your garden. Using you water features and garden features to reflect a peaceful ambiance throughout your garden is actually quite simple. I am sure most of us have heard of the term 'feng shun' but what does it actually mean, and how can you use it in your garden.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive energy. Now if you are sat there wondering what am I talking about and how does this relate to my garden then the reasoning behind it is actually quite simple as your garden can be one of the most relaxing areas of your home.

Good Feng Shun design in your garden can easily attract a nourishing and positive energy to your garden as well as a satisfying all of your senses.

Feng Shun is actually suitable for any sized garden. It is not a case of the bigger the garden the better energy that will be produced. It is still possible to create a positive energy even in the smallest of gardens. When considering Feng Shun in your garden you need to take into account the five elements of feng shun.

For example, the northeast corner of your garden is considered to be connected to the energy of personal growth and self-cultivation. The feng shun element connected to this area is Earth. In essence this is a perfect area to create a beautiful rock formation with the use of aggregates. Here are the other feng shun elements that need to be considered in your garden; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each element is also associated to a colour.

Wood - Green and Brown

Fire - Red, Orange, Yellow, Purple and Pink

Earth - Light Yellow and Light Brown

Metal - White and Grey

Water - Blue and Black

For the purpose of this blog, adding a water feature to your garden will be most beneficial to add the feature in feng shun areas such as Southeast (Money & Abundance); East (Health & Family) and North (Career & Path in Life), these are all excellent areas to place a water feature to receive the most positive energy. Another element of a well designed feng shun garden is the addition of slow curving pathways to demonstrate good energy. If you are considering adding a garden play area for your children then the west feng shun area is the recommended area as this area that is related to creativity.

When creating your garden feng shun make sure you reflect colours and nature that will bring you pleasure to look at in your garden. Feng shun is a very relaxing and positive combination of elements and when done correctly it can provide you with the relaxing energy that you are looking for.

Oak barrel water features are certainly a popular feature in many gardens across the UK. However, where did these barrels originate and what was their original purpose.

Well the Oak barrel in fact has a extensive and interesting history as oak barrel actually plays a significant role in winemaking and can have a profound effect on the resulting wine, affecting the colour, flavour and texture of the wine. Oak can come into contact with wine in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods. It can be introduced to the wine in the form of free-floating oak chips or as wood staves (or sticks) added to wine in a fermentation vessel like stainless steel. Oak introduced in the form of a wine barrel can impart other qualities to the wine through the process of evaporation and low level exposure to oxygen. Wine barrels, especially those made of oak, have long been used as containers in which wine is aged. Aging in oak typically imparts desirable vanilla, butter and spice flavours to wine. The size of the barrel plays a large role in determining the effects of oak on the wine by dictating the ratio of surface area to volume of wine with smaller containers having a larger impact.

That been said, why are we using these in our gardens as a water feature? Well simply put these types of water features offer a certain traditional yet classy look to any garden. Many of the oak barrel water features are handmade from traditional oak up in Scotland. The water features are crafted from recycled whiskey and wine barrels by traditional construction methods in order to create these unique look. Considering the time and the effort that went into crafting these historic features, there is no wonder that these are considered to be one of the more popular water features amongst other such as stainless steel or resin water features.

Oak barrel water features are generally used as a show piece in your garden, they offer a traditional focal point for which your garden can themed around. As the barrels are all self contained they offer a easy installation and versatility. Depending on the specific feature the water generally trickles down from top to bottom with a soothing sound of flowing water. Perfect for those who enjoy sitting in your garden or patio area relaxing in the summer breeze.

With the nights gradually warming up, we tend to be spending a little longer in our gardens at night. Garden lighting has quickly become prominent in many peoples gardens and is now one of the top selling products in many garden centres accross the UK. With the rapid increase in demand for garden lighting fixtures, there has been a quick increase in the variations and styles that are now available. 

Placement of your lighting fixtures is key. These lights can be placed for security purposes or for their aesthetic purposes. Some garden lights are so easy to install that the owner can actually move and place them several times. 

We now begin to see the season where we sit outside long into the night enjoying the company of friends and family. With the warmer nights keeping us toasty through the night one thing, lighitng on the other hand maybe something worth considering.

Garden lighting does not only provide you with additional lighting at night, they are also great tools for lighting up special features in your garden. Highlighting a water feature, swing set or patio area can be a simple yet very effective upgrade for your garden. Highlighting a stainless steel water feature has the additional benefit from being lit up by a garden light simply because the light will reflect of the flowing water and onto the steel. This provides great visual effects and shadows. 

Outdoor lighting will also help with safety in the garden to not only illuminate pathways but offer security by illuminating darkened corners in the garden. The benefit to these sort of lights is that they actually do not need to be high powered. All you really need is a small amount of light to illuminate that dark corner. 

Solar lighting is a relatively new and very large market. Bringing solar lights in to your garden is a great cost saving home improvment feature. The way these solar garden lights work is by gathering energy from daylight throughout the day and then gradually releasing it once the sun has dropped below the horizon. What this gives you is free lighting. Another great benefit of solar garden lighting is there are no wires and they are really simple to install. Even single light lanterns are beautiful in design and offer the same security as the higher priced ones. LED lights are a favourite in groups of individuals who enjoy saving the planet as well as saving of money. These light only require the sun power them. 

Stainless steel spheres can create a remarkable visual spectacle in any given environment whether it be your very own back garden or in a large city in the north of England. 

Millennium Square is situated in Sheffield. Located between two of the city’s most popular public spaces, the Peace Gardens and Winter Garden.

What is Millennium Square?

Millennium Square is part of Sheffield’s Heart of the City project, a scheme that has been synonymous with the City’s economic and cultural rebirth since it began in 1998. 

Why is this relevant to stainless steel spheres? Well it actually contains an amazing feature called ‘Rain’. Rain was created by sculptor Colin Rose. The sculpture features nine large Sheffield stainless steel spheres varying in sizes up to 2m in diameter, which were intended to suggest drops of rain that have just landed on the surface of the square. 

The feature truly is an amazing spectacle at night as the flowing water sparkles through the dozens of various colour changing LED lights that are set in the paving as well as into the rim of the pools under each of the steel ball or ‘raindrops’.

The stainless steel spheres in heart of Sheffield city centre forms the central part of an amazing walk, currently being tagged as the ‘Gold Route’. The route begins by taking visitors from Sheffield Railway Station through a series of beautiful new developments each with their own distinctive lighting, public art and water features.

It is possible to recreate this spectacular design on a smaller scale in your very own back garden. Simply adding stainless steel spheres into your garden design will add an elegant and modern look to your garden. The spheres are a simple yet very effective feature. Water flows from the top of the stainless steel sphere before running down the sides into the sump below. The sphere is lit from the top by six bright white LED lights, creating a stunning effect at both dusk and night. Our 100cm stainless steel sphere and our 50cm stainless steel sphere water feature are still two of out most popular water features. 

There are other stainless steel water features that provide the same visual amazement such as stainless steel polished tubes, blades and pyramids. These all provide a great focal point to your garden as the light reflects off of the LED lit water. We need not to forget the ever so popular stainless steel cascade water features also as these have become more and more popular over the years. 

We all know that it is possible to dramatically enhance your gardens appearance with the addition of water features. For many people. the thought of adding a fountain or a waterfall to their garden in order to bring tranquillity and mellow ambiance  to their very own garden. However when trying to decide on which feature is more suitable, cost is usually their biggest deterrent in deciding if they should or should not add a water feature. 

As crazy as it sounds, it is possible for you to save money on running a water feature. Solar water features or solar fountains are a great alternative to regular water features that require a connection to a mains outlet. With a solar water feature there is no need for a mains, simply place your feature and enjoy. Besides saving on the cost of electricity the addition of solar powered water features will be environmentally friendly too.

Solar water features, after the initial cost to install, will save you money over the many months to come. That is because these solar features have solar panels installed that draw energy from the sun. You simply place the water feature where you know there is good amount of daylight. The solar panels will then cause the water feature to run like normal. Throughout the day, the solar panels will store energy to be used once the sun has set. Causing your water feature to run long into the night. The best feature is it won’t cost you anything to have beautiful and stress-relieving water features in your garden.

Just making this small difference in choosing solar over electric can go a long way toward an environmentally friendly gesture. This is one small way you can make a difference in both your garden and in wallet! 

UK Water Features stocks a wide range of solar water features including an exceptional range from one of the UK's leading solar water feature manufactures, Smart Solar. 

Synthetic resins are materials with a property of interest that is similar to natural plant resins: they are viscous liquids that are capable of hardening permanently.

So, how does this tie into a water feature. Well this is what is used to create the ever so popular resin water features. This particular type of water feature adds a certain natural look to any garden, however are most suited for traditional themed gardens where they can blend with their natural surroundings.

Resin is a lighter easier to maneuver water feature compared to stainless steel, solid rock or even slate water features. making this a perfect addition to anyones garden who frequently likes a change. Essentially this resin, or pollyresin can be molded to create almost any shape or design. With the durability of the material, detail of the water features is so precise a very realistic water feature can be created such as our most popular resin water feature is the affection fountain or the Medium Granite Three Bowl.

A thing to consider if you are thinking of purchasing a resin water feature or even if you already have one is getting yourself a protective cover. Especially during the cold winter months it is essential that your resin water feature is drained and covered to protect it from these cold winters.

First off, a big congratulations to Collette for winning the Small Column and Sphere Stainless Steel Water Feature. It's on it's way.

With the overwhelming success of the first competition, we are at it again!!  This time the prize is even bigger so if you would like to win a beautiful water feature for your garden this spring then guess what? You can!!

Simply log on to our Facebook fan page and tag yourself in the competition feature picture and add us,  or log on to our Twitter page and “retweet” the competition link  that is floating around and follow us in order to be automatically entered to the drawing.

Please note, both requirements need to be met in order to be entered.

Facebook: Tag and Add

Twitter: Retweet and Follow

The Cascade Stainless Steel Water Feature is what that we are awarding the winner and it is truly a beautiful feature. We decided that there was not much point in hiding the prize till the end of the competition simply because it is an amazing prize and you really need to take a look at what you could win. 

Good luck to everyone, Entries accepted till 30/04/2011 and the winner will be announced on Monday 01/05/2011

Don’t forget to tell your friends!

The sound of flowing water can be a very relaxing and mellow sound for many. For some people the sound of flowing water can trigger a childhood memory or a favourite sound from the past. When we sit there and relax to the sound of flowing water, we can think back to sitting on a beach listening to the ocean, or sat relaxing in the countryside by a slow flowing stream. It is possible to re-create these sounds with water features that are simple plug and admire features or straight from the box. However, with the advances in modern technology, we can now re-create a much more realistic and personal water feature experience with custom built water features.

The beauty of a custom built water feature in your garden is that it is suitable for all budgets. It is possible to have a magnificent looking custom built water feature even on a smaller budget. When all said and done, the idea of a custom water feature is to be completely unique and personal. You basically can create a water feature the way you want it. Custom built water features are also perfect for garden designs, restaurants, office space and building projects.

When starting from scratch is a good rule of thumb to determine our overall budget for the project. Weigh up the list of items that you are going to be needing to create your water feature. For example, you will need a good quality water pump, basin materials such as plastic tubs, buckets, stoneware or the whole kit which includes the statuary and pump. It may also be worth considering a pump with adjustable water flow. As you can see there is a wide range of choice and it all depends on your overall budget and what it is that you want your water feature to do.

For a lot of people, the simple out of the box water features is exactly what they are looking for. After all these water features are simple to install, require minimal time and effort you are able to visually see the water feature prior to installing it. However, there are some people who prefer to be unique. They prefer to have a water feature that holds a personal touch or personal connection. Purchasing the parts one by one to create that unique water feature can be a fun and fulfilling experience. To see the final outcome of their perfect water feature will certainly provide them with a great sense of achievement.

Once your water feature is up and running you may want to consider decorating around the feature to hide any sort of working parts from the human eye. Adding a few garden ornaments or statuary to hide working parts is a simple yet very effective tip. Then you can just sit back and enjoy your new custom built focal point in your garden.

What is a water feature?
Well according to the World Wide Web a water feature is in landscaping, architecture and garden design terms, is one or more items from a range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. However in more simple terms a water feature is a decorative element using flowing water such as fountain or waterfall. However, to us a water feature is or should be the centre piece of your garden.

Water features can be a visual beauty and provide a calm, peaceful and relaxing ambiance from the slow flow of the water. Many of us enjoy sitting in our gardens on a warm spring afternoon relaxing to the peaceful sound of nature and the slow trickling water.  Our senses are trained to acknowledge these sounds and trigger an emotion. For example, when we hear flowing water we can associate that with a relaxing atmosphere and memory.

Recently there has been a notable  increase in the development of ‘Sensory Gardens’. ‘Sensory Gardens’ are designed to provide both disabled and non-disabled individuals with an opportunity to  experience an up close and personal sensory experience

Sensory Gardens across the UK to help provide both disabled and non-disabled individuals with an opportunity to  experience up close and personal  a sensory opportunity that they may not normally experience.

Sensory gardens are becoming more and more popular amongst the population. The gardens may contain various features that are accessible to all individuals such as: scented and edible plants, sculptures and sculpted handrails, water features designed to make sound and play over the hands, textured touch-pads, magnifying-glass screens, braille and audio induction loop descriptions. Depending on the user group, other provisions may integrate sound and music more centrally to combine the play needs of younger users with their sensory needs.

Many sensory gardens pride themselves to providing a unique experience for multiple senses. For example, those specialising in scent are sometimes called scented gardens. Those specialising in sound are called sound gardens where the equipment doubles up to provide an enhanced opportunity for strategic developmental, learning and educational outcomes.

Sensory Gardens usually have an enhanced infrastructure to allow easy wheelchair access as well as meeting all other accessibility concerns; the design and layout provides a stimulating journey through the senses, heightening awareness, and bringing positive learning experiences for everyone.

It has to be said that is really is nice to see the increase in development of sensory gardens throughout the UK and believe that it is of great importance that we take the time to say thank you to those individuals who take the time and the effort to make this happen for all those individuals who can now experience a unique encounter with something that we may take for granted.

If you are looking at adding a sensory garden or are adding to one, then some recommended features to provide a great experience that will tie into all senses are the 50cm stainless sphere, tapered column and sphere, 100cm stainless steel sphere and the large tubes water features all provide great reflections through the flowing water. All these features are touchable allowing you to feel the water flowing through your fingers to provide the perfect and safe experience for everyone.

There are not many of us that know much about Cretan Pots, where they came from or how they first originated however what we do know is that they look simply beautiful in our gardens. The add a very stylsih and unique focal point to any garden design.

So, where do they originally come from?
Their heritage dates back to the infamous Greek civilization of the Minoans over 4000 years ago. Traditional techniques are still be used today by the potters from the Thrapasano region of Crete. The use of the traditional techniques are emphasized to make pots and pithoi (Pithos (plural pithoi) originally referred to a large storage jar of a characteristic shape. The word was at one point used by western classical archaeologists to mean the jars uncovered by excavation in Crete and Greece; it has now been taken into the American English language as a general word for a storage jar from any culture).

The creators take exceptional amount of pride when they create these wonderful pieces. A genuine 100% authentic Cretan Pot will be completely handmade, making each pot very unique. Essentially the pots are all made from local clay which is carefully sourced from various surrounding mountain areas and then hand thrown on the wheels which are then heated in a special kernel at over 1150c. Even 4000 years ago they were thinking about economically friendly ways as the kernels all use the islands olive harvest to fuel the blazing fires. Because of the ridiculously high temperatures that the kernels it helps guarantee exceptional quality, durability. Back in the day, these large pithoi pots were used for storing olive oil, wine and honey etc whilst the smaller pots stored olives, pickles, cheese and salt and so on.

Well, there is a little history lesson for all of you who were really wondering where these magnificent pots originated.

Many Cretan Pots are now available as a water feature for your garden, so they add that extra wow factor. Our most popular Cretan Pot is the Demeter Cretan Pot which is a stunning water feature that is 100% hand thrown and frost proof terracotta cretan self contained water feature made to the highest quality.

It truly is amazing that after all these years; we are still including them in our gardens today. 100% handmade Cretan pots are a brilliant and stunning addition to any garden design whether they are a contemporary or traditional designed garden a Cretan pot will add a brilliant focal point. Oh, and now after reading this blog you will be able to sit in your garden and show off your knowledge about Cretan pots next time you have people over for a glass of wine or two now that these lighter and warmer spring nights are sweeping in.

UK Water Features

It's April already! Spring is in the air and we have a couple of things to celebrate this month, first of all as we mentioned in a previous post is the closure of our showroom which has seen thousands of customers through its doors since opening in May 2008. With the growth of our mail order business and plans for the future we made the decision last year to close the showroom and continue to expand our warehouse and distribution facility. So, big congratulations for everyone involved at UK Water Features, and not to forget an even bigger thank you to all our loyal customers who without them we would not have been able to progress and expand the way we have.

On another exciting note, this month is Easter! So to celebrate the fun chocolate egg giving tradition we are going to be awarding all our customers a FREE bag of Cadburys Mini Cream Eggs with every online purchase from today till April 26^th. Oh, and by the way this isn’t an April fool’s joke everyone. FREE Cadbury’s Mini Eggs up for grabs!

Easter eggstravaganza!

Well with what looks like the worst of the cold grim winter weather behind us, and the fresh spring weather sweeping in now might be a good time to do a spot of water feature “spring cleaning”.

The harsh winter weather may have paid a toll this year on your water features. While you were in doors sat by a toasty fire all winter, your water features were outdoors in the cold wintery snow.  A properly designed and built water feature will suffer no weather issues so as it is maintained properly beforehand. However if you are an owner of water fountain of any sort, and your water feature was left all winter uncovered by a winter protector then you may notice some minor cracks in the actual feature. This could have happened for a variety of reasons with the main one being a water feature which was not been correctly covered causing the water inside to expand which has caused the water feature to crack.  

If you are wondering what to do with the water in the feature before winter, the best option is to completely drain it. Once it is fully drained then use a suitable water feature protection cover to cover as much of the surface as possible, preventing any cracks.

If you are unfortunate and do stumble on a few hairline cracks in your water feature, they may well be fixable with a few easy steps and a little patience. The use of a sealant called epoxy may be able to repair any small hairline cracks.  

If your water feature has picked up a few leaks over the winter season, there is no need to worry. Simply get your hands on some sort of spray seal. What this does is simply heals over where there is a leak. The spray seals are perfect for fixing any sort of minor leaks from any gaskets or pipes from the horrendous winter month’s wear and tear. Good thing is, is that they will repair cracks or leaks in just about anything. Essentially you are doing the job of an experienced repair man. Usually there are two types available, one being black and the other being clear. Generally the black spray is used for interior leaks and the clear spray is for exterior leaks. This is simply due to the visibility of the sprays. 

Algae are another water feature damaging element that you need to avoid. This is the time of year where algae will start to grow. With the temperatures increasing this provides a perfect breeding environment for this bacterium. 

What is algae you ask? Well, Algae are a large and diverse group of eukaryotic (complex-celled) photosynthetic organisms. The green algae are primitive members of kingdom Plantae, though other types of algae are outside the kingdom entirely. Land plants evolved from green algae about 500 million years ago. The algae are a paraphyletic group, meaning they did not descend from a common ancestor. Algal groups have independently evolved several times in life on Earth, representing a beneficial strategy adopted by parallel evolutionary paths. (Just a little science and history for you).

A simple way to prevent this nasty bacteria forming is the use of an algae stopper. Simply spraying your water feature with this repellent will aid in preventing algae from growing.  A few key things to consider when using an algae stopper are that they are not suitable for fish or other marine life; they are not harmful to birds or any other animals and will also prevent a slime build up inside your water feature.

So remember not to worry if you do notice a small crack in your water feature. Take the appropriate action and don’t forget to cover it next year when the temperatures drop again, but let’s not think about the cold weather summer is next!

UK Water Features

Just a quick message to everyone, if you would like to win a beautiful water feature for your garden this spring then guess what? You can!!

Simply log on to our Facebook fan page and tag yourself in the competition feature picture and add us,  or log on to our Twitter page and “retweet” the competition link  that is floating around and follow us in order to be automatically entered to the drawing.

Please note, both requirements need to be met in order to be entered.

Facebook: Tag and Add

Twitter: Retweet and Follow

The column and sphere water feature is what that we are awarding the winner and it is truly a beautiful feature. We decided that there was not much point in hiding the prize till the end of the competition simply because it is an amazing prize and you really need to take a look at what you could win. 

Good luck to everyone, Entries accepted till 10/04/2011 and the winner will be announced on Monday 11/04/2011

Don’t forget to tell your friends!

Kelkay is a well-respected brand name in the water features department, in fact it is one of the largest suppliers in the United Kingdom of high quality resin water features.

One of the many great benefits to Kelkay water feature is their simple set up. Everything that you need to have a wonderful and beautiful water feature in your garden is in one box. As it may prove a little difficult to put water inside a cardboard box, the only thing that you need to do is add the water. With the water feature category being a very large and competitive market, Kelkay have a lot to live up for when it comes to been considered a leading UK water feature supplier. It is evident by their superior water features and fountains that the Kelkay quality is hard to match.

Kelkay now have an even larger range of water features in their new 2011 product line, with every single Kelkay feature being different and unique there are two things that over the years have never changed and have helped develop the kelkay brand to what it is today and they are; the premium quality and the simplicity of the install. Simply fill with water and plug in. It really can't get much simpler.

One of the most popular and bestselling Kelkay water features is the Friendship Fountain. With the low voltage lights shining in through the shimmering water this truly is an amazing water feature that adds a beautiful focal point to any garden of any size. The friendship fountain is an exclusive from Kelkay and this oriental themed feature is of course simple to install by just adding water and plugging in.  Here is a video to show it's true magnificent modern design.

It may be worth a note also, Kelkay don't stop at water features and fountains however they have several product lines in various markets such as garden ornaments and decorative aggregates.

UK Water Features

This Wednesday sees the official closure of our showroom which has seen thousands of customers through its doors since opening in May 2008. With the growth of our mail order business and plans for the future we made the decision last year to close the showroom and continue to expand our warehouse and distribution facility.

Whilst the showroom closes we still plan to have a small shop where items can be collected from. (Please check stocks before visiting the shop as we have several warehouses in various locations).

Our Firework and Christmas Shop will also re-open this year bigger and better with a new range and even more special offers.

By the end of 2011 we aim to have over 5,000 products in our range. Whilst we continue to be one of the largest online water feature websites we also have a whole host of other products including; pond pumps, pond lighting, fountains, garden lighting, gas and masonry barbecues, wooden garden buildings, trampolines, swing sets, play sets, pest control and garden DIY gadgets.

Correct me if I am wrong but don't we all want a beautiful looking garden, full of life, colour with a peaceful, calm ambiance where we can sit, relax and enjoy this lovely weather? Sometimes we just sit there and think that something is missing, something that will provide your garden with that 'wow' factor or a real focal point. There are many water fountains out there on the market these days but none of them possess a beauty quite like a stainless steel water feature.  

Stainless Steel water features are perfect for any kind of garden, whether they be contemporary and elegant as well the more traditional looking gardens. Stainless Steel is very simple yet very effective element. I am sure everyone has heard of stainless steel, so I’m not going to sit here and bore you with the long history of the stuff. Instead I am going to quickly tell you about how a stainless steel water feature will become one of your favourite features in your garden.

A question that you are all probably thinking, why is a stainless steel water feature perfect for my garden? Well in all honestly not only do these fabulous water features provide fascinating reflections with light shinning in through the shimmering water both day and night they are exceptionally easy to maintain. Compared to other stone or resin where you need a brush to clean to the thing, the stainless steel features are very easy to clean and polish. I know I would much rather spend my time relaxing in the garden than sat on the floor cleaning a fountain all day for me only to have to do again in a several days later. Stainless steel is a durable long lasting metal that is free from rust. This is key, especially because this is a water feature after all!

A great example of a stainless steel water feature is the spheres. The stainless steel sphere are by far one of the bestselling water features as they are simply beautiful to look at and fit in with just about any sort of garden. They are exceptionally easy to install and as mentioned above, they are incredibly easy to maintain with a simple cleaning cloth. Check out this video to see how beautiful these features really are.

Some stainless steel water features can be placed in small ponds while others are free standing and self-contained. Stainless Steel water features can be placed in stainless steel reservoirs and pebble grids, to help keep your garden clean and tidy. When the garden is not in use, stainless steel water feature pumps can be shut off by remote control, to avoid wasting power.

With many different styles of stainless steel water features already available there is even a solar sphere range. You really are spoilt for choice. The only major decision you have to make is, which one you want!

Spring has finally arrived! We are only in the first week of spring however the sun is out, the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer. As we are all sat here thinking about what we want to do to our gardens this year, it may be a good idea to spare a thought for solar power .

 Over the next several months, the days are going to be getting longer and longer, meaning there will be more daylight for a greater period of time. What does this mean to you? Well, if you are using the power of the sun to power your water features or even your garden lighting you will be benefiting from free energy. Okay, so if you are now sat there thinking, "how on earth do I get free energy? Nothing is free these days!" Well in simple terms the use of a solar powered water feature like the Solar Powered Stainless Steel Ball or a set of our Smart Solar Post Lights will sit in the daylight all day charging (gathering energy). Your garden water feature will run all day, at no cost to you. It will then run through the night by using the energy that it has stored during the day.  Whereas your solar powered lights will turn on when the sun goes down. No need for light timers, no need to flick any switches. As soon as the sun goes down your lights will come on. Simple. They use the energy that they have stored from the hours of light throughout the day.

With cost of electricity on the rise and a desire to have a well-lit beautiful looking garden full of various water features and garden ornaments more and more people have turned to solar power over the last year or so. With the popularity of solar power increasing weekly, people aren't stopping at powering just their gardens and are now looking into powering their entire home. Why not? the benefits of solar power are brilliant, I mean who doesn't want to save money? 

Solar powered features not only save you money on electricity bills, however they are very simple to install as they require no cables! All you need to do are two things, place your new feature in an area where there is daylight and sit back and enjoy the benefits of solar power.

Proud of your home or garden features? Then then this months monthly prize draw is a great chance for you to show everyone all your hard work.  There is a crate of wine available to the lucky winner this month.  

If you would like to be automatically entered into our monthly prize draw then please send over a picture of our water features, garden ornaments or any other features that you feel are prize winning placements in your home or garden.

Send an Email to us with your pictures, follow us on Facebook and post your pictures to our wall or follow us on Twitter and tweet your pictures to us.

The winner will be announced at the end of the month, good luck to you all!

With spring coming up now is the time to start putting your water feature ideas into place. If you are looking to add something new to your garden this spring, then the addition of a preformed pond is a simple yet effective water feature to think about.

Adding a preformed pond to your garden not only adds a little beauty or 'wow factor'  to your garden it also adds to the value of your home. The Rainworth Starter Pond is a simple, instant pond for your garden. With the preformed starter pond there is no need for pond liners as they are made from strong durable plastic. You simply just need to dig a hole and customize it with any accessories to give it the complete look.

If you are looking for a quick fix for your garden or a simple upgrade this spring then a preformed pond is especially effective and is ideal for creating a pond like habitat in your garden.

Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to start thinking about your garden. If you are looking to add something completely different and unique this season then the addition of a custom made water feature will certainly set your garden apart from others. Adding a water feature will generate a peaceful ambiance in your garden. After all your garden is a place where many of you go to relax after a long week. A place where you want to sit back, relax and admire.

From a winding water stream to a large stainless steel or glass water feature, the addition of a custom water feature to your garden will set a unique focal point to build your garden around. Emphasize your new water feature by adding a set of solar lights to bring your feature to life at night.

If you are looking for something completely unique, or you have a design in mind to fit a perfect space we can design and build a custom made water feature for you. Get creative, as almost anything is possible! Give us a call to tell us about your design ideas, we would love to hear from you. Or why not tell us your ideas on Facebook or Twitter. If you already have one of our custom built water features in your garden then please post a picture for your chance to win a crate of wine in our monthly prize draw.

Water features add a sense of calm to space both in the home and around the garden. When deciding on which feature to place outside one of the biggest problems can be locating a power source to the area of the garden where the fountain is to be enjoyed.

Solar Water Features, remove the need for any power requirements, can be moved around to suit any layout and cost nothing to run as they utilize the suns natural rays.

Most solar water features have a separate solar panel which can be placed in the garden where you get the majority of the day time sun. As soon as the sun comes out the feature will come to life.

As technology develops several solar features now have "On Demand" technology. This technology stores power during the day meaning that when the sun sets the feature can be turned on and enjoyed into the early hours. From our range of ‘Smart' fountains the Buddha Solar Water Feature, and Pitcher Cascade, both use the new technology.

UK Water Features, have a large range of solar powered garden water features and fountains along with solar fountain pumps and garden lighting.

Winter is coming to an end and spring is upon us. With all the grim weather and all the snow we have had over the winter, warmer weather is on the horizon and now is the time to start thinking about preparing your garden for the spring season. If you are one of those people who love to spend some time in the garden then now is the time to begin your preparations and add them unique touches.

If your garden is in need of a little touch up just before the spring season starts then a few simple additions will go a long way to help you achieve that special look this year. The addition of a self-contained water feature or fountain is a brilliant way to add a unique touch to your garden. These are all very easy to install and require no additional plumbing. With the warmer weather just around the corner, what better way to relax over the weekend and admire your garden than sitting on a new garden swing? The addition of a garden swing or furniture would be a great addition to your garden a place where you can sit and relax and enjoy the view. Keep in mind that there will still be a chill in air so the use a patio heater will be very useful. Finally adding the final touches are key, small garden ornaments will set a larger garden feature off and help them stand out.

It is officially spring here in the UK in 20 days, so you should also begin to consider what plants and/or vegetables you are going to be planting. Here’s tips though, do not go rushing in with that post winter gardening itch and begin planting quite yet. However get out there and inspect all your gardening tools and if needs be then now would be a good time to purchase any new tools and equipment that you may need this year. It would also be a great idea to clean and organize your garden shed.

UK Water Features offers a range of water features, paving, aggregates and ponds for all your garden needs. 

Solar water features are a great way to conserve both financial as well as ecological resources. Due to improvements in design, modern solar water features are designed to operate in climates that have historically been off-limits to solar power. Solar panels can collect power even on cloudy days, thus saving the owner the cost of powering the water feature. By allowing the pump to run continuously at no cost to the owner, solar water features prevent stagnation. This, in turn, helps to reduce algae buildup. This reduction in algae buildup also creates cost savings in the form of decreased expenditure on commercial algae cleaning products.

With the advent of solar water features that possess removable solar panels, it is even possible to locate a solar water feature in a garden that does not ever receive direct sunlight. Simply place the solar water feature on a level spot in the garden, fill with water, and then locate the solar panel in an area that receives adequate direct sunlight. The power is then fed back to the solar water feature, allowing the owner to design the garden to their specifications while still harnessing the energy of the sun for power.

In summary, solar water features grant owners cost savings on both power and cleaning products. This cost savings makes solar water features an ideal addition to any garden.

UK water features offer a large range of water features, click to view our shop for more on our product range.

For those who are trying to live a green lifestyle, a solar water feature is an ideal landscaping solution. These water features are designed to operate in climates that do not always have copious amounts of direct sunlight. There is nothing greener than allowing Mother Nature to power your garden water feature.

Choices abound in the solar water feature market. One of the most novel solutions offered in the solar water feature market is that of the removable solar panel. Purchasing a solar water feature with a removable solar panel allows the owner to place the solar panel in an area that receives significant direct sunlight even if the water feature itself does not receive adequate direct sunlight. This allows the owner more choice in where to locate the solar water feature within the garden.

By recirculating water, solar water features conserve water while also saving money. Harnessing the energy of the sun to power the water feature allows the owner to constantly recirculate the water at absolutely no cost. By keeping the water moving, the solar water feature reduces algae growth and thus reduces the need for algae removal products. This reduction in chemical use makes solar water features an excellent and earth-friendly green choice.

In summary, solar water features create a lovely and tranquil oasis while still being an entirely green choice for eco-conscious gardeners.

For a large range of wall fountains, indoor, self contained and solar water features, please visit our shop

If you are trying to create a serene and tranquil area in your garden but are short on time, a self contained water feature is the ideal choice. Creating a peaceful spot by locating a self contained water feature in your garden takes only minutes. Gone are the days when you needed an engineering degree and an endless supply of free time to create a water feature in your garden. Simply choose your desired location, level the ground, place the water feature on the spot and fill with water. The beauty of these self contained water features is that require little maintenance once they have been set up. Simply treat your water feature for algae and limescale as needed using commercially available products.

If you do not have a garden, you can place a self contained water feature on your patio or even inside of your home. Self contained water features come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes including statues, above ground ponds, and free standing waterfalls. Solar powered self contained water features are easy to obtain and provide for a water feature that not only sets up in minutes but that costs nothing to operate. Such water features often possess battery backup for those bleak days when solar power is not practical.

In summary, a self contained water feature sets up in minutes, costs nothing to run if it is solar powered, and requires little ongoing maintenance. It is a quick and simple way to create a lovely spot in your garden.

For a massive range of water features in the UK, then visit our shop pages!

If you are going to be enhancing your garden with a solar water feature, you need to establish how often you would prefer to use it. It is totally fine if you plan to run your solar water feature only on sunny days, but if you are planning to run it on days when it is cloudy, I’d suggest you to also purchase a battery pack. By adding a battery pack, you will be able to use your water feature whenever you would like to. If your solar water feature is not going to be installed in direct sunlight, it is recommended you attach a solar panel in order to receive an adequate amount of sunlight to power the water feature.

When it comes to choosing a water feature, they come in many different varieties. For those of you that are deciding on the type of water feature you want, they are available in terra cotta, slate, stone resin, copper and ceramic. The best solar water feature to choose is the one that can function in climate for your area. Many types of water features, like stone or ceramic, will crack in extreme cold temperatures. The best type of water feature to use in cold climates is metal and resin. Also, to ensure your solar water feature is protected during the winter, you will have to remove it when it is cold and put it somewhere like the garage.

For an indepth range of water features please visit our site

As a busy person, you will find a self contained water feature to be an ideal choice for your garden or patio. Sold in many shapes and sizes, these water features set up in minutes. Self contained water features allow busy people to add an interesting and peaceful area to a garden or patio while necessitating minimal expenditure of time and effort. Above ground ponds are a particularly useful self contained water feature. Requiring no more than a level spot to sit on, these ponds set up in minutes but provide instant peace and tranquility to any garden.

As self contained water features are recirculating, they are quite simple to clean and maintain. Occasional use of an algae stopper is necessary to prevent the water in your water feature from turning an unpleasant shade of green. If hard water is an issue in your area, you will need to occasionally employ a limescale cleanser to prevent buildup in your water feature. If you expect freezing temperatures, it is best to drain your self contained water feature and take it indoors if at all possible. If this is not possible, you can purchase a cover for your water feature to protect it from the freezing temperatures.

In summary, if you are a busy person, purchasing a self contained water feature will allow you to add a tranquil area to your garden without forcing you to spend countless hours installing and maintaining this valuable addition to your landscaping. A self contained water feature is truly the ideal choice for busy people.

To make your garden especially lovely for the warmer spring and summer months, you can consider using pond lighting. The pond lighting can be used in the most important parts of the garden to accentuate the look. Most people can only admire a garden in the daytime, but there's no reason why it can't also be beautiful in the night.

Pond lighting is available in more than one way. There are underwater lights, solar lights, floating garden lanterns, and lighting around the pond. For a more subtle and warm effect, the underwater lights would be the best choice. The floating lanterns also give off a low light to just illuminate the pond and the surrounding garden areas. Sold in sets of two or four, you can also purchase filters to make them change colour for an even more beautiful appearance.

If you choose to have brighter lights, spotlights with or without colours would be perfect. Just one single bright light across the pond will have a dramatic and exotic effect that everyone will enjoy. These spotlights mainly come in singles or sets of three or four.

For a very stunning outdoor look, your pond can have both the submerged lights and the spotlights to create a unique and dazzling show of colours. This may sound like too much, but with just the right amount of light, your pond will become just as beautiful in the evening as it is in the bright sunshine.

Stainless steel is a practical and beautiful material for garden water features. It is durable, easy to clean, and resists algae growth. Stainless steel is much easier to clean than traditional concrete, which both algae and moss tend to grow on. It is so much more enjoyable to spend countless hours walking in your garden viewing stainless steel water features than it is to spend all your time cleaning stone and concrete water features with brushes.

The beauty of stainless steel is in its reflective shimmering quality which is brought out by the shimmering water flowing over its surface. Wet stainless sparkles in the sun, and reflects the shapes and colours around it, with a glorious brightness and lustre. Stainless steel water features can be exceptionally beautiful, in a contemporary garden.

Stainless water features comes in a variety of finishes, styles and sizes. Orbs and cylinders are very popular forms, but there are also basins with spray founts, series of bowls and basins, and even cubes. Freeform modern stainless sculptures are an attractive alternative as well.

Some stainless steel water features can be placed in small ponds while others are free standing and self contained. Stainless Steel water features can be placed in stainless steel reservoirs and pebble grids, to help keep your garden clean and tidy. When the garden is not in use, stainless steel water feature pumps can be shut off by remote control, to avoid wasting power.

There are few events more exciting for a gardener than the Chelsea Flower Show. Where else can you go to one place and see thousands of beautiful, perfectly maintained flowers and plants? It is impossible for any gardener to go to the Chelsea Flower Show and not walk away feeling more inspired and ready to improve perk up their personal garden.

For those not familiar, the Chelsea Flower Show, officially The Great Spring Show is a yearly event held over the course of 5 days held by the Royal Horticulture Society and located in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. The Chelsea Flower show is a sight to see with vibrant coloured flowers, stunning landscaping and lovely planting. It attracts over 150.000 visitors that come to soak up inspiration and take home ideas for their own garden.

The 2010 winner of the Best Courtyard Garden was ‘Music On The Moors’ exhibited by the Two Moors Festival and was the perfect balance between nature and landscaping.  There was a fantastic water feature representing a trickling stream that was flowing over a beautiful piece of Dartmoor granite into a pool. Christina Williams, who designed the garden, described how the sound of the water was a metaphor for music and features heavily in the mood of her garden. The serene and tranquil ambience created in this courtyard garden must have worked for the judges to receive the gold award. 

Using clever mirrors and reflections from contemporary designed water features can make your garden look bigger as well as enchanting. Mirrors are used in many modern buildings such as supermarkets, apartments, and gardens all over the world to make them look better, contemporary and also larger.

In the modern UK housing market space is at a premium and many gardens and outside spaces are smaller and compact. People find that if these spaces feel too cramped they are unable to enjoy the space to the full.  In such cases adding a contemporary chrome or stainless steel water feature will take up space but actually makes the garden feel larger.  It will give the mind a sensory focus, the light reflected by the water as well as the materials used in the feature and the sounds of the water bubbling or trickling will instantly relax a busy or stressed mind.

When enhancing the space of a garden you need to make sure that mirrors reflect the most attractive aspects of your outside space. This will help make mirrors bounce back the natural light that helps illuminate the features of your garden.

Mirrors are even used to balance out walls that aren't level or to create a fake window. This same concept can help take an unattractive fence and make it into something truly breathtaking. Gardens are unique to the individual and are often an expression of their owners.

There are many Eco-friendly water features that utilise recycled rainwater for ponds and garden watering. Recycled rainwater protects the environment by not tapping into external water supplies. Using rainwater conserves water and energy. Water conservation is accomplished because only a minimal amount of water is used. Conserving water and relying on solar power to nourish plants and flowers in your garden is a good way to help preserve the environment.

Another way to use the power of the sun and recycled rainwater is to install an environmentally friendly solar water fountain. Solar water fountains enhance the natural beauty of the garden setting and in general they bring a touch of panache to any outdoor area. These fountains have built in solar panels, which converts sunlight into energy. Solar water foundations add a calm and tranquil element to gardens, there is something very blissful about listening to natural sounds of water flow.

There are many different types of Eco-friendly solar water features, including using a solar pond pump. Solar pumps use recycled water and natural energy to constantly refresh the water flowing into your pond. Solar energy supplies enough power to efficiently operate and maintain the pond’s filter. The filter pumps in fresh rainwater, the water is treated and cleansed with oxygen. The clean water is then pumped back into the pond.

With cold temperatures and the snow of winter, are you looking ahead to spring and planning your garden? If so here are a few great tips on how to make it beautiful and be the envy of your neighbours. Gardens need to look great and provide serenity to those who enjoy the outdoors when it is warm. This is where adding a water feature to your gardens come in handy.

A water garden surrounded by landscaping timbers and flowers gives off a feeling of being somewhere exotic if landscaped the right way. Gardeners can replicate waterfalls by building up their land so that the water cascades like a real waterfall. Add a few different colour water lights underneath and surrounding the bottom of the pond where the water flows down to is a great idea. Have a patio area set up nearby and you can have cookout at night or just sit out under the stars and enjoy friends and family.

Along with your waterfall garden, you should plant lots of water flowers and plants to accent the look you are trying to achieve with your garden. Place a few outdoor candles along side of the pond and light them at night to add extra glow and give your garden the feeling of being on holiday all year round.

There are many ways to decorate your garden in the spring, but none is better than having a water garden to adore through the warmer months.

UKWaterFeatures.com offer ideas on garden design and landscaping and sell the UK's largest range of water featues and garden products

If your garden needs a little something extra to spice up its appearance, consider the possibilities of a cheap and really beautiful water feature. For just a little money you could add a peaceful and calming water feature to your garden and exponentially enhance its appearance.

One really common and easy way to do this is by incorporating an old wooden barrel or a retired garden pot. Most gardeners have access to some decent sized gardening pots and could easily use one of these. If you’re interested in a something a little larger and maybe more unique, try to get your hands on an old wooden barrel; most wineries sell these or you can look online to see where a cheap one might be in your area, click here for a range of oak water features.

Recycling an old wooden barrel or garden pot to make a water feature is easier than you think. The first thing you'll need to make sure of is that your barrel or pot is water tight. A wooden barrel will need to be lined with plastic or sealed at each of its seams with epoxy or melted wax, and most pots will only need their drainage hole plugged. Find a nice pump and faucet and attach them accordingly to your barrel or pot. After filling the container with water, plug in your pump and enjoy the heightened ambiance of your transformed garden.

UK Water Features are specialists in water features, fountains and garden furniture

There are certain things that take an outdoor space up to the next level, and a water feature is definitely one of them.

Landscaping companies are more than aware of the perks of a water feature and charge a small fortune for their services. However, it's more than possible for a handy homeowner to build their own bespoke water feature themselves for a fraction of the price.

There are a variety of kits available locally and online, but it's also possible to build a water feature with little more than a basic pump and some other simple supplies.

A water feature consists of a water tight base to hold the water, a pump and hoses for movement and circulation, and rocks, a sculpture or shells for the water to flow over.

Select an optimal spot in the garden. Dig out a bed for the water tight container. Line the hole with liner and insert the container. It should be snug. Arrange the rocks and tubing throughout, creating a pleasing structure. Silicone caulking works well to secure the tubing. When caulking is dry, submerge the pump and hook up the tubing. You now have your own bespoke water feature.

Choose decorative rocks or a sculpture that appeals to you and you will create a work of art that is uniquely yours.

Creating your own water feature at home is as simple as going to the store, pickup a pump and making the water feature yourself. The hardest part in making a water feature is choosing the water pump.

Water pumps are rated by LPH or litres per hour. The trick with choosing the right water pump is to measure accurately the lift you will require. The lift is defined as the number of feet the pump must move water vertically. Lift is measured from the pump to the exit spot of the water. If the pump is submerged one foot and must pump water through a line up a three foot tall statue then the lift is four feet. Most pumps have a grid on their packaging that indicates how many gallons per hour a pump will flow at X number of feet. It is important to choose a pump that is not too small or the water will not rise up the lift and fall. It is equally important not to choose a pump that is too large because the water will shoot beyond the reservoir. The ideal pump should turn over the water volume of the reservoir 3-4 times per hour.

Reservoirs can be constructed out of any material that will hold water. Flexible pond liners work really well. A sturdy plastic or metal screen should be placed over the reservoir and decorative rocks placed on top of the screen. The centre piece of the water feature will also rest on the screen so make sure the screen is stable or a base may be needed for the centre piece. The goal is to keep the water free of debris and the rocks should keep leaves, etc out of the water. The rocks also make it easier to refill the reservoir.

The next step is to connect the water pump with flexible tubing and attach the tubing to the centre piece. If using an open urn type centre piece then fill the urn about 1/4 full with small gravel and use rigid tubing for your uplift.

The rest is up to the designer. Let the creativity be your guide.

~UKWaterFeatures.com

From midnight on the 4th January 2011 the rate for VAT rises from 17.5% to 20%.

We will be increasing some prices to reflect the VAT rise but on the majority of lines we have managed to negotiate fantastic deals with suppliers and reduce the number of prices which will have to go up.

On some products we hope to reduce the price rather than increase!

As we continue to grow we aim to add new and innovative products to our range. If you have any comments about our products or pricing please email info@ukwaterfeatures.com We reply to each email personally, often within a couple of hours.

A fountain or outdoor water feature can add aesthetic value to your home and offer a sense of peace and serenity. It can also be relatively inexpensive or a bit of an investment. Either way, you want to make sure that you care for it properly. This means taking the necessary steps to protect your water feature during extreme weather - typically the winter season.

As water freezes, it expands which can cause many types of material to crack. In areas with constant extremely low temperatures, you should remove all the water from your fountain and any small holding areas. Make sure that after it is drained, you turn on the pump and run it for a minute or two to ensure there is no water left standing in the lines.

For water features that don't include fish or live plants, you can use chemicals containing bleach, or a solution such as Algae Stopper to prevent algae from growing year round. During the winter, smaller fountains can be brought indoors, or disassembled and stored in garden shed for the winter. Larger fountains that have been drained should be filled with some type of material to absorb moisture. Old blankets, cloth sacks, or towels work well. Simple netting or a cover made from other materials can be placed over your fountain or pond to help keep debris out that might settle, clogging the pump and any filters. With a few simple preventative measures, your water feature can be kept in top shape and ready for enjoyment in the Spring.

Right now is an excellent time for planning the garden for a new season. While the days are shorter and the weather is cold and wintry, those who love to garden can be doing some dreaming about next year, and getting ideas for items they wish to add. Perhaps a lovely water feature could be chosen and some further landscaping to make the outdoor space more inviting, but it is important to think ahead and plan for spring.

Garden water features vary in design style and function. There could be a small fountain or a pond, but should it be naturalistic or art deco? For the private residence or business, a bit of water gurgling and overflowing into a small pool is so refreshing on those warm spring and summer days. A few well chosen rocks or a rock wall retaining the pool might be desired.

Of course, it is wise to take time when planning a water feature because there are several things to consider like how much space in the yard should be devoted, or just how the pond should lie. Maybe a narrow, disappearing stream would be better than a contained pool. The drainage could be an issue. There are professionals available for advice. Still, fountains and ponds can be inexpensive and yet fabulous additions to gardens.

Maintaining water features throughout the year with the change in weather and season is challenging task. Water can soon get clogged up. It is important to maintain your landscape water element properly for its running. There can be countless problems that can be a result of water features, especially when someone utilizes dirty or contaminated water. Special measures should be taken to solve problem and to avoid trouble.

Basically, two types of algae, string algae and notorious plankton algae affect the pond by making its water green. Sunlight and nutrition are two factors behind their growth. Providing shade to the pond by using above or besides the growth of plant can provide cover to the surface and reduces sunlight to get into it. Use of these covers can stop sun light to get into and thus reduces algae growth. Cleaning of the water timely will reduce the presence of nutrients.

Winter protection covers for fountains are available for outdoor fountains and in ground swimming pool. These covers help to protect these pools from the effect of cruel weather. They are made up of durable material and also have additional feature such as weather resistant surface coating which increases their durability and strength. Algae stopper anti algae treatments are very effective in reducing algae growth. Fountain cleaning products prolong the cleaning period of the fountain and ponds and make cleaning faster to provide fresh water.

As the temperature drops its time to make sure your garden water feature is protected from the elements.

Ideally all water features need to be drained down and covered with a Frost Protection Cover. We have three sizes, small, medium and large.

Small Fountain Cover This will fit fountains and water features with a maximum height of 117cm and maximum diameter of 122cm. Our price £18.99 (This includes Free UK Delivery)

Medium Fountain Cover This will fit fountains and water features with a maximum height of 178cm and maximum diameter of 137cm. Our price £23.99 (This includes Free UK Delivery)

Large Fountain Cover This will fit fountains and water features with a maximum height of 192cm and maximum diameter of 153cm. Our price £28.99 (This includes Free UK Delivery)

If you are un sure which cover to get give our friendly customer care team on 01226 388889 - we are open 7 days a week and here to help.

The covers simply place over the top of the water feature and have a draw string cord at the base ensuring that the cover cannot blow away or let the elements in.

If water is left in poly resin water features and the temperature drops below freezing the water can freeze, expand and potentially crack the resin causing the fountain to leak. We would also suggest that even if you are planning on taking the fountain into a shed or garage that it is still covered as the temperature can still drop below zero.

Ponds bring a new dynamic to any piece of property that other landscaping objects and arrangements can't touch. A body of water opens up a landscape in much the same way that softer colours open up a room. Something that can add such beauty also requires a level of responsibility, and one aspect of that responsibility is properly preparing your pond for the colder months so that it doesn't freeze.

The first step is to trim back any large plants in the area, and checking to try to remove as much dead plant matter from the water as possible. It's also recommended that you drain at least some of the water out and replace with fresh, this step helps to avoid having rotting plant material that stays soaking in your pond until spring.

Once the cold air starts to roll in during the winter, make sure that your pump continues to run, as moving water is more difficult to freeze than still water. A pond heater or de-icer will provide enough extra heat to keep the water from reaching freezing levels, and depending on where you look they aren't incredibly expensive.

Following these practices it's not difficult to keep ones pond from freezing, and before long you will have a healthy and vibrant addition to your landscape again come springtime.

Indoor water features are becoming more and more popular for home décor. They are attractive, come in many shapes, sizes, colours, and styles to complement whatever taste or decorating style complements your home. More than attractive conversation pieces, indoor water features actually have some benefits that go beyond simply pleasing the eye, or setting off your room accents, there are some health benefits to indoor water features. They can be especially helpful in the winter months.

Indoor water features on a practical and measurable level increase the humidity levels in your home and humidifies the air making the air in the room easier to breathe. If you have a condition that is aggravated by dry air, especially the heated indoor air of winter, an indoor water feature makes an attractive cool air humidifier. The flowing and aspirated water can also capture pollutants and allergens from the air also making the indoor air more breathable.

Water also has a calming influence on us psychologically and symbolically, water features can speak to the spirit and the subconscious as well as providing a relaxing background of flowing water sounds. Flowing water sounds tend to calm the psyche and relax the mind. For those with tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, the sound of flowing water can provide just the right level of background white noise to relieve some or all of the ringing in the ears.

It may be hard to find a definitive guide for Garden Winter care. This is due to the fact that gardens are as unique as the people who create them. There are many different types of gardens, but applicable to all of them are some pretty good steps for making sure your garden is maintained throughout the winter.

If you have an indoor garden then winter preparations is not as important of a thing to worry about. This is especially the case if your garden is climate controlled. If this is the case your only real concern is to make sure everything stays at optimal temperature through the cold winter months.

If you're like most people and have a garden that is outside then you will encounter a few problems with the cold winter months. The main concern of an outdoor garden is the possibility of freezing. If you happen to get a frost or snow your garden may be done for.

If possible you should move plants of yours inside, which may require transplanting them into temporary vessels. But, if this is not possible there are other alternatives. One thing you might consider is a heater in your garden if at all possible. If by chance you're in an area that doesn't often get frost you may be able to get by with covering your plants with a sheet or blanket throughout the harsh, cold times.

If you've gone to all the trouble of maintaining a garden then it should be just as important for you to ensure its longevity. A primary way to make sure your garden is here for a long time to come is by taking the appropriate steps toward winter care for your garden.

Water Feature Online

Anyone who joined our Facebook group between the 01st September and the 30th September was entered into a prize draw to win £100 to spend on our website. With over 3,000 Products we have one of the largest choise of garden water features and great other garden products in the UK.

The winner was Cassandra Lyn from Essex.

Join our Facebook Group today to find out about more chances to win more prizes over the next few months.

Its coming to that time of year again where you need to think about preparing your fountain for the winter months again.

We always suggest removing all the water from your water feature and cleaning it out before covering with one of our fountain protection covers. These covers are frost proof and come with a draw string at the base enabling a snug fit. Protection Covers come in three sizes,Small, Medium and Large. 

Removing the water will prevent water from potentially freezing and expanding which damage fountains and cause water to leak out once filled back up with water.

When emptying your water feature it maybe worth using Fountain Grime and Lime to remove any limescale or algae.

If you have a water feature where the reservoir is dug into the ground these can also be prepared for the winter by either removing the water or adding a plastic bottle of ball into the reservoir to prevent the water freezing completely.

Visit our water feature Care Section for range of winter care products.

The end of autumn is a time of preparation for many gardeners and landscapers. It is common knowledge that most plants will not survive the winter months, but what many people don't know is neither will the water features in your garden. It may seem like they would not be harmed since the water is constantly moving, but this is not the case for most water features, even smaller ones.

Before the first cold winter snap, it is important to go ahead and empty out your water feature and move it to a place that is warm and dry. No matter the material your water feature is made of, the stress of freezing temperatures on the fountain and pumps is too much for them to last long. While it may seem like a quick fix to simply pour antifreeze or some other warming agent into the fountain, these chemicals are often dangerous to animals and the environment. It is not recommended to try this "quick fix" because it could have devastating results.

If you are unable to move the fountain to a better location, it is still necessary to empty it out and make sure it stays dry throughout the entire winter. Even if a cover is used, water may leak into it and potentially cause damage. Don't think that your water feature is safe from the winter cold, because you may regret it come spring!