Family-Friendly Garden Water Features

Water features are a wonderful way to create a tranquil atmosphere in your garden. When you have a young family, you need to make sure that they are safe around the water though. On average 815 children a year die from unintentional drowning – some of these due to garden ponds and other landscaping features. When you are choosing water features for your garden, or adapting existing ones, it is essential that these are family friendly, and secure. 

 

Water Fountains

Water fountains create a peaceful sound in your garden, and are beautiful to look at. Rather than installing a conventional fountain, a wall-mounted water fountain is a safe alternative for children. These can be placed indoors, in conservatory spaces, or outside on the side of a wall. This means that they can fit in even the smallest of gardens, perfect if you only have a small patio space to work with. Birds and insects are naturally attracted to the water, and you can bring a really tropical feeling into your garden.

 

 

Existing Garden Ponds

Garden ponds can be particularly hazardous for young children, even if they can swim. If you have an existing pond in your garden, placing a secure wire mesh over the surface of the pond can prevent small children from getting into the deep water. You will still be able to keep fish in the pond, and other aquatic plants. It is also a good idea to plant a hedge, around two foot high around the borders of a pond, to prevent toddlers from leaning in too far. 

 

Create Bucket Pools

A shallow bucket pool, or wading pool is the perfect way to create a child-friendly water feature for your garden. You simply need to dig a hole the size of your bucket, then place the bucket into it. Fill in the space around your bucket with soil. Rather than filling up with water from the faucet, let the bucket fill naturally with rain water – this will be at a better pH level for plants and animals. You can create a series of pools in different areas of your garden, observing with your children how creatures are attracted to the water in shady or sunny areas.

A water fountain or shallow pool is a great family-friendly feature for your garden. The water will attract lots of interesting wildlife, and give your garden a calm and tranquil feel.