Regular readers will know that Lawntech and our sister company, Hewlett Turf & Landscapes, have been proud to support the Secret Spitfires Memorial project here in Salisbury. In doing so, we have worked alongside James Humphries of Light My Space, who was responsible for the lighting design and installation on the life-sized replica WW2 fighter ‘plane mounted dramatically on a plinth alongside the site of one of the secret factories that collectively built nearly 2,500 spitfires in total secrecy.
Our Sister company, Hewlett Turf & Landscapes, are proud to support the Secret Spitfires Memorial project in Salisbury.
When it comes to our gardens, lighting can be extremely rewarding as it transforms a space which we know so well by day in a totally fresh intriguing landscape by night. We asked James and his team for their advice and top tips when it comes to illuminating gardens.
How can Garden Lighting make a difference?
At Lawntech, we all love a garden party and at the drop of a hat will festoon our gardens with all forms of lighting to create a festival vibe for those fabulous occasions. We love the effects these temporary solutions bring, but this article is all about designing and using permanent lights in a garden to give the space a whole new dimension when the sun goes down. In the southern half of the UK, we can enjoy as many as 16.41 hours of daylight per day in the height of summer, while in wintertime it can be as little as 7.56 hours. These longer nights are an excellent reason to illuminate our gardens so that we can maximise the enjoyment from them.
Garden lighting can extend the interior of your house out to the garden after dark, for relaxation and for entertaining. Even in the depths of winter, when you’re on your own at home, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy your garden’s treasures lit up while you’re indoors and the elements are doing their worst outside.
Lighting areas of water features and ornaments can create a magical scene by night.
While it’s logical to think in terms of lighting your rear garden (perhaps that’s a more private space), garden lighting is equally applicable to the front of your home. Illuminating the face of your house, garden and driveway can be both eye-catching and welcoming, while deterring potential threats to your security.
Garden lighting can be as simple or complex as you wish and just doing a few simple things can be the most effective. There are plenty of options available, in terms of both the lighting itself and the expertise to design and install it, so you can let your imagination run wild! The only real limits are your imagination and budget.
Here are a few points to bear in mind when considering garden lighting for your property:
Garden lighting can be both subtle and dramatic… and the two are not mutually exclusive!
It can illuminate or hide any spaces within the garden. You may have special features or areas that you really want to highlight, while there may be some that you’re less fond of and would prefer to keep in shadow when the sun goes down. Shadows can be as dramatic as lit areas.
Lighting can set a stunning scene of shadows across your lawn.
Focus on the overall layout of your garden, and any parts you want to highlight or hide as part of the big picture.
If possible, the ideal is to design your lighting plan before any hard landscaping is laid. This allows for any cabling or conduits to be safely tucked away out of sight and in safety.
Portable lighting, such as uplighters on spikes, can change the mood either with the changing seasons, the growth and expansion of your plants or just on a whim.
Water features can take on a whole new level of drama when lit thoughtfully. Fountains of water dancing through thoughtfully placed light will sparkle and bring magic to your setting.
Steps and retaining walls should be lit for safety reasons in any case, but a little creativity can produce a stunning effect in those areas.
You don’t have to be confined by lighting an item from just a single source. Designers call it ‘Layering light’, for example lighting a large pot containing a tree from the ground while simultaneously bathing the tree itself in light from a separate source higher up. And don’t forget your lawn, or parts of it! While you probably wouldn’t want it to be floodlit like a sports stadium, your lawn can look spectacular when picked out with light in imaginative ways.
Proud of your plants? Simple yet effective lighting can highlight areas of your garden you want to stand out.
GARDEN ELEMENTS AND FEATURES WHICH CAN BE LIT TO STUNNING EFFECT:
Horizontal Ground Structures; Patios, pools and paths can be bathed in light from a choice of angles, to pick them out in the overall picture of your dark garden.
Vertical Ground Structures; Walls, doorways, gates, fences, hedges and pergolas.
Canopies; Gazebos, tents of all kinds, garden cabin roofs, patio sails etc – these can all be lit from the inside or outside to create drama.
Structural Trees, shrubs and other plants.
Statues and garden ornaments.
This setup of small, hanging bulbs by Light My Space, are a beautiful addition to your garden at night.
For more details of Light My Space and what they can do for you, take a look at their website;
https://www.lightmyspace.co.uk/
Their expertise and experience is by no means restricted to lighting gardens, as you will see. They can also be contacted by email, at;
or by telephone on;
01980 555493.
