Water sets the scene for many wonders of nature lots of us like to enjoy like beaches and riversides, yet it can often be taken for granted in our day to day lives. Times of shortage or deluge really encourage us to notice it. The changing climate invites us all to celebrate this precious resource as a life force that is much more than just a common commodity.
Recent years have seen the UK experience more than its usual share of hot, dry weather, even having wildfires spreading across parched land reported in the news. This has come together with the more frequent reports of flooding where we have watched people waiting on their rooftops to be rescued from rivers of rising waters flowing down their streets.
Is there anything we can do to improve this situation? Though systemic change is needed to fully address the cause and effects of man made climate change globally, there are actions we can take as individuals to manage water and ensure resilience in our gardens for both plants and wildlife – as well as allowing us to continue to enjoy this beautiful, powerful, and yet finite resource.
Watering the garden
Perhaps you are a keen gardener dreading hosepipe bans due to water shortages in the summer? We are experiencing extreme weather events nationally, including higher summer temperatures and more stormy weather that can cause flooding, especially if the ground has been dried out beforehand. A gardener harvesting rainwater for plants is one of the most useful ways to reduce water consumption in our homes. Many people use water butts, large containers that collect water straight from downpipes coming from gutters that runs below the roofs of their home, outhouse or shed. I leave my watering cans outside in a downpour and have saucers under my pots to catch water. Like many I welcome the rain refreshing my garden and love making the most of any rainfall by gathering as much of it as I can!
Together with national research councils, the Royal Horticultural Society have developed a short advice note called ‘Mains to Rains’ inviting gardeners to move away from using mains water for gardens (link below) following Environment Agency concerns that, by 2050, we will require 25% more water daily as a nation. This note suggests collecting rain water by using self watering containers and hanging baskets, water butts and dipping trays as well as using drip trays beneath pots. It’s a good approach for the earth and healthy for the purse strings too.
There is also practical advice on how to nourish the garden, for example leaving lawns unwatered and reducing mowing to encourages grasses to form deeper roots thus increasing their resilience and ensuring the lawn comes back to life when it rains after a dry spell. I no longer mow the grass in my garden at all. Not only is it liberating to remove this task from my long to do list, but in the summer, when the grass is long, I make paths through it to reach my raised beds and love the colours dotted throughout it where the insects occupy themselves buzzing from wild flower to flower. In the winter, it all just naturally dies down creating plenty of nooks for hibernating pollinators.
The RHS also provide advice on recycling water from showers, baths, kitchens and the rinse cycle of washing machines in gardens. Water from these sources around the home are collectively defined as ‘grey’ water. It’s a cost efficient way of reusing water that has already been counted on the water meter, but it can contain contaminants such as soap, grease and detergents. The RHS advise that soil and potting composts are effective at filtering these contaminants out, and even describe the residues as acting like a mild fertiliser. I collect the grey water from my condensing tumble drier into watering cans and use it to water houseplants, and the plants in pots and beds in the front and back gardens, including some giant pots housing a beech tree and crab apple trees. Grey water should not be kept for long periods because it can contain pathogens and it’s best to avoid watering any plants with it that would be eaten without cooking.
Reducing water run off
There are many natural ways our gardens can retain water so that we avoid excessive surface water run off that puts pressure on drains and causes flooding.
Mulching can prevent water evaporating, so gathering leaves and other plant matter and allowing it to break down for use on the soil can be a great way to capture and retain rain water deep inside the soil.
Keeping top soil healthy enables it to store water and the soil also stores carbon as well, so there’s a double benefit.
Removing hard paved areas that repel water is a key decision to encourage water to drain into the soil instead of becoming run off. If you need some hard landscaping, look for permeable paving to enable water to drain in between the slabs.
But if you can, swap hard landscaping out for soil and plants instead. There is a wonderful list of plants in the RHS note mentioned above that suggests plants for different types of soils such as ferns for wet soil, lavender for dry soil or layering plants together like dogwood and apple mint. The taller plants can go deeper with their roots to reach water and they also provide shade for the lower plants so they can flourish and protect the soil beneath from washing away.
Water for wildlife
Just like us, all the wonderful creatures that visit and inhabit our gardens also need water for their survival. The Wildlife Trusts offers a great list of tips for helping the wildlife in our gardens thrive during very hot or very cold weather. Top of the list is just having a source of water available, whether that is a bird bath, frog pond or just a tiny muddy puddle perfect for butterflies to perch on.
Top up water sources as they evaporate quickly in very hot weather. For birds, ensure water is placed near a place of safety, such as by a shrub or tree, and where they can spot predators like cats approaching. Break the ice over bird baths or top up with warm water when the weather is frosty – there is a shortage of drinking water for wildlife when everything has frozen over.
Remember to ensure that any water you leave out has shallow and rough edges so that any creature that falls in can climb out again.
I have included a link to the RSPB website below, which provides step by step instructions on how to create a mini-pond. The best time to consider creation of permanent water features like ponds is asking your garden designer to build it in to your outside space designs – they will help you find a perfect spot and help you design in rainwater as the main water source. Crucially, they can also make sure you have an excellent view of it from your home so you do not miss any wildlife action.
Therapeutic water
Water’s therapeutic benefits are multi sensory. The sound of gently dripping or trickling water will attract birds and can be immensely calming for people. It can help to relax the mind and focus attention on the garden rather than be distracted by outside noises like road traffic.
A water feature in the form of a pond, fountain or rill can transform even a small outside space into an oasis of tranquility. Light and surrounding plants can be reflected in the surface of bodies of water and I remember a particularly wonderful experience of watching the moon reflected in the large pond at Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire on an organised bat walk – light sources shining on the water attracted insects, which in turn attracted chubby little daubenton’s bats that flitted across the surface to catch them, it was magical!
Many water features are designed to recycle their water, so you are not needing to feed it with mains water, and some are small and self contained enough to be able to be kept on a balcony or patio area. Consult your garden designer to help you find the perfect solution for your space as they will be able to design in the specific sounds, colours, visual effects and access you need.
For those who are hardy cold water swimmers and have the space, a lovely natural swimming pool can provide areas to swim outdoors that are naturally filtered through specially selected plants and gravel. Natural swimming pools do not use chemicals so also have the added benefit of attracting wildlife.
Finally, to complete the sensory experience of being immersed in water outdoors, why not incorporate a shower, plunge pool or bath outside amongst the natural surroundings of your garden?
Photography by Funda Kemal
Further reading and references:
(All checked for access 30.12.25)
Royal Horticultural Society
https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/gardening-in-a-changing-world/water-use-in-gardens/
The Wildlife Trusts
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-provide-water-wildlife
RSPB
https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/make-a-splash-with-water
However you choose to add water into your garden, spend time considering what fits your space or ask your garden designer to do the hard work of sourcing and designing in the best items for your garden for you.
Contact North Leeds Garden Design and we can work with you to encourage pollinators into your outdoor space