Joe Swift’s focal points

Give your garden the designer effect by creating views to remember

Focal points such as sculptures, water features, seating areas and accent planting are a key element of garden design – they draw the eye into certain areas to form compositions and sometimes add drama. And by choosing things that are personal, they help to stamp your mark on a space. Once spotted, a focal point will tempt you to look closer and pull you through the garden to explore. Focal points can also help define separate areas within the garden, giving them each their own identity, but also help focus the mind on the associated planting whether it’s to complement, embellish, or act as a simple backdrop to show them off. The choice of focal point will all depend on what you like, what you may have spotted and think will work in your space. Of course, budget is also a big consideration but in my experience, simplicity often works best and a lovely old pot placed in just the right spot can work a treat. Or perhaps you can go one better and make something totally unique for you and your garden?

FINELY SCULPTURED

This is a classic setup with a sculpture placed at the end of a straight path. The bricks draw the eye towards the end and the combination of tall hedging and simple white cosmos flanking the path balances the composition nicely. COST Statues like this start at around £75 – try primrose.co.uk JOE’S TIP Lay bricks lengthways towards the focal point to speed the eye to it.