Getting a water feature? Read Joe Swift’s expert guide

Jul 05, 2023

At the big RHS flower shows — from Malvern to Tatton Park, via Chelsea and Hampton Court — we have seen quite an array of water features. There have been splashers, gushers, dribblers, along with smooth pourers and silent reflectors. Many were bespoke, nestling in gardens, some “off the peg” and for sale on the trade stands.

A water feature is not a pond. A pond generally holds quite a lot of water (often along with plants and a variety of wildlife) whereas a water feature tends to be smaller and is quicker and easier to install. Some are even small enough to be put away for winter.

All water features work by circulating the same water, usually with a submersible pump. If the water