Water Gardens

Water gardening has become more popular in recent years as more attention has been focused on the sector by the media (television shows featuring water gardens for example) and rising disposable incomes make the investment required more affordable.

The overall water garden market, which is basically ponds and water features such as fountains, was estimated at approximately £90 million in 2005, whilst the water gardening equipment sub-sector is valued at an estimated £19 million. The equipment market is split into two broad sectors, pond pumps and cleaning products (such as filters, silt removers and pond vacs etc.). Specialist aquatic centres and garden centres account for over 90% of retail sales of water gardening equipment.

Table. UK Water Garden Equipment Market by Segment Share by Value, 2005

Most of the leading suppliers in the water gardening equipment market are either specialists in the pond and aquatics sector (including products such as aquariums) or water systems specialists, producing irrigation, sprinklers, hoses and suchlike. Hozelock's Cyprio brand is the market leader, with an estimated share of around 30%, followed by Gardena with approximately 15% share. Oasis, Blagdon, Oase and Lotus are also leading brands, with shares of around 10% each. Pondtec, Bermuda and Draper are other brands with national distribution.