Water Features in a traditional sense originated in Greece, in the form of the fountain and were thought to have been the heart of the community. However, in 4000 B.C there is acceptable evidence of the use of fountains as a part of a garden complex in Iran, where ceramic remains have been discovered. The healing nature of horticulture as a whole has been recognized for thousands of years, with many early communities developing their communes through the use of the land.

The Greeks designed whole temples dedicated to recovery with rustic settings, therapeutic gardens, bathing pools and natural springs. The community would worship the deity ‘Aesclepius’ and concentrate on spending time relaxing, the temples were a place to encourage healing from illness. The Romans too compiled information on which plant life had beneficial properties, in the 1st century A.D. a surgeon from the army, Dioscorides composed a register of around 650 herbal treatments and the typical locations and methods of use each particular plants to medicate.

The Centre for Therapeutic Horticulture has been established since 1992 and is part of the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum. The Centre uniquely specializes in exploration into the importance of relationship people with plants in reference to physical condition and mending within the hospital setting. The modern research into this relationship seems to show that being close to and enjoying the beauty of a natural environment stimulates our mind, body and spirit together and enhances the recovery of physical conditions. In particular the sound of running water is especially good at relaxing our state of mind, this could be because it stimulates our senses. As human beings are 70% water the basic need for water is being fulfilled and perhaps a constant assurance is given to us to know we are within a close proximity to water.

Over the twenty years water features have increasingly become a regular feature within landscaping in the UK. Gardening programmes like the BBC’s ground force have inspired the UK to become more aware of their garden and the huge benefit and enjoyment to be gained from maintaining and improving your outdoor living space. There is also the aspect of financial gain, that a beautiful garden can add value to your property but it is about having a space to entertain, socialize and enjoy life.

The modern water feature can come in many forms and really there’s something for everyone, gone are the days where plastic water ponds are the norm. In the case of materials there is a vast range of materials being used to produce water features from the very contemporary stainless steel to enduringly elegant stone carving. Adding a new dimension to your garden by installing a water feature would fashion a new element of your garden and improve your enjoyment of the garden and may benefit your health in the long run.

Chelsea is a part-time journalist, writing occassional overviews on UK water features, who specialise in special and designer water features and provide them throughout the UK.