Gifford Monk
This is a monk – not the fat jolly kind with the funny haircut but the concrete pond outlet kind. It is a very old design for an outlet structure and is so named because the abbeys were the first places to keep fish in...
20th January 2017
in Pond Tips
Pond Tips – Formal Pools
These photos illustrate some of the things not to do with a formal pool. If you are going to use a hard, consistent material like brick then see if you can soften it with some planting or at least some other material that breaks up...
Firestone Pond Liner, Stirling
The guys persevering to finish lining a big pool out near Stirling. Lots of tricky details to do and a certain amount of coping with unhelpful weather. All done now though and holding water. The Firestone EPDM liner really works well in situations like these...
John Hope Gateway Pools
The John Hope Gateway pools at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are filling up. The water in the top pools highlights the outlines and as it travels over the weirs it darkens the granite which gives an unusual and interesting effect. We would like to take the...
4th December 2016
Edinburgh Landscaper wins Principal BALI Award
National Landscaping Award for Water Gems Water Gems did it again! Another Principal Award for Edinburgh landscaper, Water Gems, at yesterday's glitzy BALI awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Their Merchiston Garden won high praise from the judge who said, 'The quality of the...
30th November 2016
in Pond Tips
Pond Tips – Edges
Pond edges are interesting places. If you are standing at one then there should be lots to see and lots to be interested in. If you are a designer or pond builder producing an infinity or meniscus pool then the edge needs to be level...
20th November 2016
in Pond Tips
Pond Tips – Water Features
One of the many nice things we get to do at Water Gems is play around with designing water features based on some of the strange physical properties of water. One of the best examples we know of doing this is the Princess Diana Memorial...
17th November 2016
AWARDS SEASON 2016!
Water Gems have once again become BALI award winners. The British Association of Landscape Industries awards ceremony takes place every December with a champagne reception followed by a sumptuous lunch. This year Nick and Annie, Robin, Struan, Hubert and Kenny will head down to the ceremony...
14th November 2016
in Water
Froggy Pond Makeover
Water Gems were delighted to carry out much needed improvements to this popular pond in Dedridge, Livingstone. Funding was secured by West Lothian Council to improve the pond’s appearance whilst increasing its biodiversity and its value for formal and informal nature study. The name Froggy...
10th September 2016
in Pond Tips
Pond Tips – Duckweed
September. For some reason lots of ponds have duckweed at this time of year (the little floating green plants that sometimes cover ponds). I am not sure why it is called duckweed except that ducks appear to eat it. Duckweed is shade tolerant and typical...