Marian Boswall defends the building of lakes, which bring both beauty and biodiversity

Dr Smita Patel dreamed of a natural swimming pool in her garden, and after years of waiting, the dream finally came true, as Nicola Stocken discovers

Placed in the garden, a sculpture invites us to pause and appreciate both its beauty and that of the backdrop around it

Within a framework of mature trees, this naturalistic Surrey garden contains a mix of informal planting and formal topiary

From city breaks to ski and sauna weekends, head to colder climes for an elegant way to enjoy the season

The quiet beauty of winter sets the stage in this garden, where topiary shapes and the borrowed landscape are the main performers