Water features in gardens
We are fortunate in Scotland to have lots of water — as part of the landscape and in our gardens. The Scottish mainland has 6,100 miles of coastline and more than 30,000 freshwater lochs. Meanwhile, more than 200 gardens registered with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme have some sort of water feature, ranging from natural lakes to man-made ponds and burns flowing through the grounds.
There are many benefits of having a pond or other body of water in the garden. Water adds a special quality to a garden. Water bodies heat up and cool down slower than land. In effect, it regulates temperature therefore helps to avoid extremes (especially true for large bodies of water).
Being around water during summer months has a cooling effect. Evaporation helps surrounding plants to cope with draught. Water attracts insects, birds and amphibians that play a key role in many food webs, increasing biodiversity of a garden and allowing for the balance between pests and natural predators.
Water is known for calming nervous system, adding a wellbeing factor. Well-designed and maintained water feature adds to the beauty to our outdoor space and may increase the value of the property.
Water feature ideas to recreate in your garden
Are you looking for garden pond ideas for your own garden? There are various water feature designs ideal for different types of gardens - big or small, formal, or natural. Why not visit real gardens where you can see applied designs, or even speak to the owners about maintenance?
There will be many opportunities to see private gardens with water features in Scotland this year. Come to our open days and decide on the type of a water feature to install in your garden.

Ornamental or formal ponds
An Cala, Ellenabeich, Isle of Seil, 1 April - 31 October
A spectacular and very pretty garden with streams, waterfall, ponds, many herbaceous plants as well as azaleas, rhododendrons and cherry trees in spring.

Shepherd House, Inveresk, Musselburgh, Tuesdays and Thursdays until 27 July, groups by arrangement.
Artist’s garden full of surprises including a shell house built in 2014, lavender parterres, a rill and fountains.

Broadwoodside, Gifford, East Lothian, open along with Gifford Village on Sunday 9 July.
In the walled garden, the formal pond, with water lilies, is fed by the run-off from the extensive roofs of the steading. On either side of the pond, and on the terrace above, lie the only real ‘flower beds’ in the garden.

Corsock House, Corsock, Castle Douglas, Sunday 28 May and by arrangament 1 April - 30 June
This is an Arcadian garden with pools and temples. It has artfully designed water features set within formal walled garden and more natural bodies of water in richly planted woodlands.

Langwell, Berriedale, Highlands, Sunday 30 July
This spectacular old walled garden includes a formal, attractively-shaped lily pond, accompanied by large herbaceous beds and framed by mature hedges.

Claremont House, Redmill, West Lothian, Sundays 18 June, 16 July & 6 August
There are three ponds, a rockery, a dovecot, a newly created rose garden and interesting trees.

Natural style ponds
Mill of Forneth, Forneth, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Sunday 4 June and by arrangement 14 April - 21 April
The rocky waterfalls and tranquil lily pond at this former watermill are fed by an old mill lade. The lade originally took water from Lunan Burn to power the mill.

Dal an Eas, Kilmore, Oban, by arrangement 1 April—30 September
An informal country garden with the aim of increasing the biodiversity of native plants and insects. It has a natural pond and waterfalls.

South Flisk, Blebo Craigs, Cupar, Fife, Sunday 30 April & Sunday 28 May and by arrangement 1 April - 30 June
A very special garden with spectacular views, and the large flooded quarry full of fish (and the occasional otter) and planted with impressive marginals. Must-watch video tour of the garden is up on our YouTube channel.

Dundonnel House, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross, Saturday 15 April, Thursday 1 June, Saturday 29 July, and by arrangement 1 April - 31 October
An ancient walled garden with exciting planting, Victorian glass house, riverside walk and arboretum.

Burnside, Drongan, Ayr, by arrangement 1 April - 30 September
The owners are happy to receive any size of group, large or small, even individuals. The garden boasts herbaceous beds, ericaceous garden, screes, three alpine glasshouses with award-winning plants, an extensive Streptocarpus collection, polytunnel, pond and arboretum.

The Pond Garden, Milnathort, Kinross, by arrangement until 31 October (except July).
A wild woodland and wetland garden supporting birds, bees, butterflies, red squirrels, swans and other less visible wildlife. Sandstone features gather moss, and waterside benches welcome you to rest by the pond. Watch this beautiful video tour of the garden.

Old Manse Garden, Wanlockhead, Biggar, Lanarkshire, by arrangement 1 April - 31 October
Gardening at 1,530 feet — Wanlockhead is Scotland’s highest village — presents a challenge. But this one-acre garden in the Lowther Hills is a haven of biodiversity and quirkiness. The pond provides a habitat for amphibians, insects and other creatures… as well as amusement for the owner’s cat.

Streams and rills
2 Durnamuck, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross, Sunday 16 July, Saturday 19 August and by arrangement 1 July - 30 September
It is a coastal plantsman’s garden with a rich mix of herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, vegetables, drystone wall planting, South African/Mediterranean plants, a wild meadow and stunning views.

Glenarn, Rhu, Helensburgh, 21 March - 21 September.
The pond was created by widening the burn in the 1860s. Its reformation was one of the first garden restoration projects a few decades ago. Beyond the pond is the start of the glen, planted its entire length with a huge variety of rhododendrons, particularly the big leaf species and hybrids, that give a distinctly Himalayan feel.

Redcroft, Edinburgh (opening with Innerwick House), Saturday/Sunday, 13/14 May
Redcroft is a mature walled garden surrounding an attractive Arts and Crafts house, with a variety of different features and habitats: old shrubberies, an orchard, a rockery, a pond, a rill, and a large lawn with contrasting longer grass.

Shepherd House, Inveresk, Musselburgh, Tuesdays and Thursdays until 27 July, groups by arrangement.
Artist’s garden full of surprises including a shell house built in 2014, lavender parterres, a rill and fountains.

Waterfalls
Craigieburn House, by Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Sunday 28 May
Garden Manager, Datenji Sherpa has recreated a Himalayan gorge with native plants where the Craigie Burn tumbles down through a series of waterfalls.

Stobo Japanese Water Garden, Sunday 4 June
The garden’s most noticeable feature is the constant presence of water, beginning with the drama of a waterfall at its head through a cascade of ponds, punctuated along the way by steppingstones and bridges.

Dal an Eas, Kilmore, Oban, Argyll, by arrangement 1 May - 30 September
You’ll find a burn with waterfalls and pool, a woodland walk, a pond and wildflower ‘meadows’ with five different species of native orchid.

Fountains, statues, sculptures and ornaments
Hunter’s Tryst, Edinburgh, Sunday 4 June and by arrangement 1 April - 30 September
Well-stocked and beautifully designed, mature, medium-sized town garden comprising herbaceous and shrub beds, lawn, fruit and some vegetables, water features, seating areas, trees and an example of cloud pruning.


Stobshiel House, Humbie, East Lothian, Sunday 4 June, also on Wednesdays throughout the year.
The garden is split into four main parts: the walled garden, the shrubbery, the pond and lawns and the woodland areas. On top of smaller manmade ponds, it has a natural pond with a bridge, set amongst the trees.


Dundonnel House, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross, Saturday 15 April, Thursday 1 June, Saturday 29 July, and by arrangement 1 April - 31 October
Camellias, magnolias and bulbs in spring, rhododendrons and laburnum walk in this ancient walled garden. Exciting planting in new borders gives all year colour, centred around one of the oldest yew trees in Scotland.
The garden has both natural and designed water features.


Kirkmuir Cottage, Stewarton, Ayrshire, Saturday/Sunday, 3/4 June
The garden features large lawn area, wildlife pond, and many interesting and unusual artefacts and sculptures.

5 Greenbank Crescent, Edinburgh, Sunday 14 May
South-facing, newly designed, sloping terraced garden with views to the Pentlands. Colourful plants, shrubs, roses and small trees. Hard features include a gazebo, pergola, greenhouse and water feature.

Eas Mhor, Clachan Seil, Oban, Argyll, by arrangement 1 May - 31 October
A small contemporary garden on a sloping site - the emphasis being on scent and exotic plant material. The delightful, sunny deck overlooks stylish white-walled ponds with cascading water blades.

Stepping stones, rocks and drystone water features
A Blackbird Sings, Longniddry, East Lothian, Saturday 29 April, Saturday 27 May, Saturday 24 June, Saturday 29 July & Saturday 26 August
Here you will find various water features, an unheated conservatory containing cacti and insectivorous plants, as well as multiple garden ‘rooms’ with planting mostly by type.


Ruthven House, Coldstream, Berwickshire, Sunday 25 June and by arrangement until 30 September
The garden’s central feature is two ponds joined by a winding stream. The garden is composed of various areas, herbaceous borders, woodland areas, a gravel garden, a knot garden to name but few.

Little Sparta, Stonypath, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire, Tuesday 27 June, Tuesday 4 July, Tuesday 29 August & Tuesday 5 September
Little Sparta is Ian Hamilton Finlay’s greatest work of art. Individual poetic and sculptural elements, in wood, stone and metal, are sited in relation to carefully structured landscaping and planting.


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