Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Zoe Wood

Garden water butts get a long overdue design makeover

Water Butt Direct’s 300-litre Helena amphora water butt in terracotta effect
Water Butt Direct’s 300-litre Helena amphora water butt in terracotta effect. Many water butt designs now double as planters or ornaments. Photograph: Water Butts Direct

They are water-saving wonders but plastic water butts have traditionally been eyesores to keep hidden from view. Now, though, with conserving water more important than ever, designers have upped the ante with clever models that double as planters, ornaments and even fountains.

The market was ripe for a makeover because “one of the barriers to having a water butt is that it’s got to be in your garden, and we want our gardens to look nice, don’t we?” says Gin Tidridge, a product sustainability manager at the B&Q owner Kingfisher.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.