September 2011

Well this is certainly un expected, highs are set to reach a whopping 24C today in London. Isn't it the end of September? Well according to weather forecasts across the UK we are set to have a beautiful end to the month with sunshine and warm temperatures sweeping the nation. 

That being said, we may want to hold of on packing the BBQ away for the winter and prepare for a wonderful weekend out in the sun. With temperatures this weekend set to soar to a remarkable 27C! 

If you are lucky enough to have the weekend off this week then you are certainly in for a cracking weekend. Why not invite some friends or family round and host a end of summer party. It is crazy when all said and done, we really didn't have a summer here this year. Who would have thought that come the end of September we were going to be having such lovely weather let alone been able to sit outside all day grilling some food on your  gas barbecue that you probably didn't get much chance to use so far this year. Sit back and enjoy the weather while it lasts guys, winter will surly roll in sooner or later and the snow shovels and rock salt will certainly be in high demand. Lets not think about that right now though, get yourself out in your gardens and enjoy the rays while you sit back with a glass or two of wine and admire your lovely garden.

Funny thing is, I wrote a blog the other day on preparing your water feature for the winter. I think that it may be wise to put those thoughts and ideas to one side right now and if you do own a water feature then embrace it for a few more weeks. 

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

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. 

As well know, last winter was a little bit of a disaster weather wise. Here in the UK we tend to have some bitterly cold winters that will not only affect your daily commute to and from work every day but the harsh temperatures will take a tole on your lovely garden water features should they be left unprotected throughout the winter season.  Your outdoor water features will be in harms way throughout the season if they are left outside in the freezing temperatures. In order for you to avoid expensive repairs when it comes round to spring there are several very important steps that need to be taken in order to prevent any damage to your features. Of course, it isn't always necessary to shut down your water features for winter, as they often compliment a snowy backyard like no other. However, please not that if your water feature is a habitat to fish, you will want to invest in a pond de-icer. Pond de-icers not only keep your fish warm and alive, but also ensure your water does not freeze. Frozen water inside of water feature is something that needs to be avoided at all costs. Frozen water may lead to cracks in the feature as once the water has frozen it will expand. Due to the limited room inside the feature including pumps and pipes the frozen and expanding water will need to escape from somewhere, creating a crack. 

Remember, most pond fish won't be able to digest their food past 12.8 degrees Celsius. If you live in an area that experiences hard freezes, you should definitely consider moving your water features indoors. Sometimes this option is a little too drastic, or is simply just too much trouble. If that is the case then I would suggest that you drain the water feature completely and store it in a dry place over the winter period. A good storage spot would be in a shed or garage. Of course, some things are just too large and bulky to manoeuvre inside a home, so if you have no other options and are concerned your water will experience a hard freeze, you should drain the water from your fountain, ensuring the pipes do not freeze. If you feel it's necessary, purchase a large, durable blanket to protect your investment or better still a fountain water protection cover from the harsh weather. 

With the horrible weather we had last winter, it may be a good idea to invest early in some rock salt to grit your pathways and driveways with. By investing early you will be prepared and avoid the troubles of shortages that were evident last winter. Amongst the shortages last winter was snow shovels and sledges.

Just remember, you have invested a significant amount of money in your garden features so why not take the little extra time to protect them over the winter. Come spring, the last thing that you want is to turn your water features back on in excitement only to find that there is a crack and water is now leaking and is essentially un-usable till fixed. 

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

Every winter accross the UK we decorate our homes with  Christmas decorations in celebration of the festive season. Every year we get the ladders out and thorw our selves into the loft to bring down last years decorations. It is a yearly tradition that is shared amongst millions of people not only across the UK but the entire globe. Having celebrated this tradition for countless years, now might be the time to replace that tired looking Christmas tree with a new artificial tree, now know as the 'no mess' Christmas tree. 

Owning an artificial Christmas tree in your living room might not be the old fairlytail traditional Christmas tree as they all seem to be actual real trees. What they don't actually show you in all the Christmas stories is the residue that a real Christmas tree leaves on your carpets. 

A modern artificial tree in your living room avoids all the mess and will leave you with a hassel free clean up after Christmas has passed.  Now a days many of the new 'no mess' artificial tree actually look very realistic and could easily pass off as a real tree.  With many different styles and sizes available there is certainly one that will be suitable for your living room this year. Take for example the Green Newfoundland Deluxe Artificial Tree. This is only one style of tree out of hundreds that are available but as you can see it is available in three different sizes, the 1.8m, 2.1m and the larger 2.4m. As the tree gets larger in size so does the number of branch tips. For example, the 2.4m tree has 1576 branch tips. That is a whole lot of tree! 

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.

If you need an energy efficient alternative to mains powered lights this year then solar powered LED lights should be exactly what you are looking for.  These solar lights harness the power of the sun, charging up during the day and coming to life at night.

Add a seasonal glow to plants, trees, borders and pathways.

The photocell built into the solar panel triggers the lights to turn on automatically at night and then the timer will switch off the lights after 6 hours.  Obviously, the more sun the solar panel gets during the day the brighter and longer the lights will shine for but it will still charge even on cloudy days.

As there is no wiring needed apart from arranging the lights in your chosen location, it makes these solar lights much easier to install and safer.  

Let creativity shine with solar lights for every part of your garden, add sparkle to your eves, decorate window boxes, plants and trees.

There are many benifits of switching from the old conventional style of lighting to modern LED lighting.

Tough, durable and long lasting, LED lighting will out live the conventional Christmas Lights used by most many times over.  Also, LEDs are low voltage so they are safe not only outside but inside your home too.

How does it work?  Conventional lighting utilises incandescent bulbs that merely push in which can be damaged very easily.  Eventually one light will go out but the problem is it will knock out all the other lights with it, breaking the current.  The amazing thing about LED lighting is that if this happens, the rest of the lights stay on as they all operate independently of one another.

Your new set of LED Christmas lights use 90% less energy saving you money and making them more evnironmentally friendly.  

Not many LED lights can bring the magic of Christmas to life like these can.  Whether its inside or outside your home, you can be sure that your festivities will light up your Christmas for yeas to come.

Get creative with Premier Connectable LED Lights giving you the ability to connect up to 5000 LED lights to just ONE power outlet!

You can discard your collection of old exstension cables and sockets which can be a nightmare to set up.  Premiers light sets feature easy to use connectable accessories to make the job that bit easier.

With connectable lights you're able to connect up to 5,000 lights from just one socket! You will pay less, save on mess and save on stress.

Conventional lights are sometimes too short.  With Connectable’s you are safe in the knowledge that if your lights are too short, you can just extend them with another set.  Make your own system to suit your needs.

More durable and brighter than conventional lighting, you can be sure that you lights will be able to be used year after year.

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.

Urgh...the summer surely has flown by and believe me I know it is too early still to start talking about Christmas however, it certainly isn't to early to start to think about the festive season. As of today there are 115 days left till Christmas. As we all know Christmas can be a very stressful period fro us all. Getting things together and planned early is key to stress free Christmas where you can sit back and enjoy some delicious eggnog while watching some of those Christmas specials on the television. 

UK Water Features has recently launched our new sister company specialising in Christmas decorations. UK Christmas World will be going live by the end of next week so stay tuned. In the mean time, why not take a quick look through some of the fantastic Christmas products right here on the UK Water Features website. 

Whether you are looking for some LED Christmas Lights, Christmas decorations or an Artifical Christmas Tree this year, UK Water Features and UK Christmas World will have you covered. Christmas can be an expensive time of the year for most people so now would be a fantastic time to start putting a little a side in preparation for the festive season. 

Christmas is a joyful time where friends and family come together to celebrate. The tradition of decorating your house during this holiday is a tradition that we all love to take part in. Many people love decorating their house with bright and cheerful fairy lights and decorative silhouettes. Sometimes you even get the odd few who love to decorate their home that little bit more, and a little competition of who has the most lights or who's home is the brightest escalates. 

With so many Christmas decorations available in various shapes and size there really are decorations available for all tastes. 

UK Christmas World is the new sister site of UK Water Features. Free delivery on all orders over £40.