The RX-8

GARDENING
Splash
out on
a water
feature
It’s that time of year again, when you heave
open the patio door and venture into what’s
left of the garden, after the ravages of winter
have taken their toll. It’s likely you’ll have
some work to do – and if that work is likely
to run to a makeover, then it’s worth
knowing that this year, all that shingle and
decking is out … and good old grass is
making a comeback bid.
Another old favourite on course for a revival
this year is the relaxing water feature.
Actually, water features never went away –
although some of them left a lot to be desired
in the tastefulness stakes.
The new generation of streamlined,
sophisticated water features mean getting it
right. So let’s start with services: how many
gardens have you visited where you see an
electricity cable running across the lawn, which
is then plugged into a socket in the
conservatory or kitchen? This looks so bad that
we call it the fountain out of a box syndrome.
Electricity is electricity - whether it is supplying
a string of lights or a water feature pump.
Remember, it can kill, so make sure any feature
is installed correctly.
The best option is to hire a fully qualified
electrician to do the job (Islandwide Electrical
Tel: 526061). Depending on the distance, it
could cost anything between £70 and £500 to
run a cable that will not end up frying your
barbecue guests or the pet pooch.
If you are a DIY-er intent on doing the job
yourself, there are some basic rules you must
46 Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net