While visiting a client recently on a new housing estate, we were stood in their garden, a house that would have cost around £400k plus. We were stood there surrounded firstly by other houses on all sides and in three of the gardens the now common children's trampolines and safety cages were peering over the stark fencing.We were there discussing an installation of lighting products from our range and they told us how they have had to employ a designer to structure a planting plan to give them privacy from the children on the trampolines that surround them and not from the overlooking windows.This was clearly most distressing for the clients and they told me stories of both children and adults on the trampolines at all hours of the day and night looking over the fences and children sticking their tongs out (as children do) and worse while they were eating in the privacy of there own home. I got the impression they felt like prisoners in their own home.The structures are well over the regulation 8ft but because of their nature i.e. a non permanent structure they do not come under any bylaws and as we do not have privacy laws in this country there is nothing frustrated house owners can do about this spreading epidemic. I have noticed this trend for these products and i am amazed how even people with small gardens can find room to cram one of these monstrosities in.I wonder how long before the first court case for these products appears. Do any designers have any similar stories to tell??

Who else forgot to put their clocks back?? I did again!! One year maybe i will remember.Lets hope this brings a change in the weather. Today is glorious with me in Derbyshire hope it is good with you too.Hopefully this will be the start of new contracts and lots of business for everyone.

I have been giving some advice this week to a client who wanted to include a line of up-lighters along their drive. The client wanted to install standard halogen lights for this purpose. Following our advice however they went for the LED option as a preferable alternative. Halogen up-lights do have there place but i felt that the heat these lights give off could cause potential problems if a car tyre was to sit on them for any period of time.This reasoning also applies for any areas where bare feet could potentially stand on a light like on decking areas, etc.I thought i would pass this on for any one with a similar application.

We are suppliers of a wide range of gardening products including lighting, water features etc. We would like to set up links/ groups with designers and landscapers hoping to source products for use in their designs. We originated from a design background and understand how time consuming and confusing it can be when specifying products and features. If we can help any designers or landscapers with advice on lighting or water feature issues please contact us and we will do our best to help in any way. With feedback and communication we can all work together for our mutual benefits.