The Oasis Water Garden
Water Garden
| Designer | Shade Landscapes & Water Gardens |
|---|
Tucked behind a summer house in a quiet garden, Shade Landscapes & Water Gardens have created something special: an immersive oasis where water, light and Millboard decking work in harmony. A series of waterfalls, an ecosystem pool, fire and water features and generous planting are all framed by Millboard decking in Enhanced Grain Coppered Oak, forming a sanctuary that feels both serene and theatrical.
This project, known as the Oasis Water Garden, shows what is possible when expert water garden design meets materials that perform exceptionally well in moisture rich environments.
The brief: a tranquil water-led retreat
The homeowners wanted more than a simple seating area. Their brief called for a calm, contemplative space with a bespoke waterfall network, interlinked ponds, a striking pergola and a raised walkway leading to their summer house. It needed to be visually dramatic, yet genuinely usable day to night and across the seasons.
Durability and water resistance were essential. Every element would sit beside, above or over moving water, so traditional timber risked becoming slippery, faded and tired. The clients were also keen for finishes that would blend with the natural planting while adding a warm, luxurious feel.
Shade Landscapes & Water Gardens were commissioned to bring this vision to life, designing and building the entire scheme from scratch.
Why Millboard decking was chosen
From the outset, Shade knew that Millboard decking and associated Millboard products would be at the heart of the design. For over 20 years they have specialized in water gardens, so they understand precisely what constant moisture, fluctuating temperatures and algae growth can do to conventional materials.
Millboard decking provides the appearance and texture of real timber, but as a wood free product it offers exceptional slip and fade resistance, even in exposed gardens or beside reflective water. This makes it especially well-suited to walkways, bridges and decks that sit right on the waterline.
For this project, the designers selected Millboard Enhanced Grain decking in Coppered Oak. Its rich, golden-brown tones echo natural hardwood, bringing warmth to the coolness of water and stone. The color also works beautifully with lush green planting and the soft glow of evening lighting.
A moated Millboard deck at the water’s edge
At the heart of the garden sits a Millboard deck that appears to float in its own aquatic world. Shade designed a moated configuration, surrounding the pergola platform with tranquil water features and planting on all sides.
The only way to reach the pergola is via a stone bridge, giving visitors the feeling of crossing into a private island. Once there, they are encircled by the sound of falling water, with cascades tumbling around them and ripples catching the light. It is a space to sit, breathe and fully tune in to the garden.
To enhance the sense of immersion, Millboard planters have been built around each leg of the pergola. These provide anchored points for climbers to twist, climb and eventually drape overhead, softening the structure and pulling even more greenery into the seating area.
A raised Millboard walkway to the summer house
From the central deck, a raised Millboard path leads up toward the summer house. This walkway acts as both a practical route and a viewing gallery.
Halfway along, Shade have installed an ecosystem pool with two adjoining waterfalls. As you approach the top of the Millboard walkway, the falls meet your eye, creating a striking focal point framed by the warm tones of the decking. The effect is almost theatrical, yet the journey still feels calm and unhurried.
Because Millboard decking performs so well around water, the designers were able to specify it without compromise all along the route, knowing it would remain comfortable and reassuring underfoot in wet weather or on dewy mornings.
Lighting the garden for evenings and events
To make the space work after dark, Shade integrated LED lighting along the length of the Millboard path. Continuous warm white strips tuck neatly against the boards, washing the edges of the walkway with a soft glow.
At night, the reflections from the water, the shimmer of the waterfalls and the gentle illumination from the LEDs transform the garden into a magical scene. The lighting is practical for safe movement, yet subtle enough to preserve the tranquility that defines the space.
Built on a long lasting sub-frame
A water garden of this caliber is designed to be enjoyed for many years, so the structure beneath the visible surfaces is just as important as the finishes. To ensure the pergola and walkway would last as long as the Millboard decking itself, Shade specified Millboard’s Plas-Pro sub-frame components.
This robust, moisture resistant sub-frame system, made from 100% recycled plastic, supports the entire decked structure, giving confidence that the garden will continue to perform beautifully despite constant exposure to water and changing weather. The result is an outdoor room that looks effortless on the surface but is meticulously engineered underneath.
Expertise behind the oasis
Every element of the Oasis Water Garden project was designed and built by Shade Landscapes & Water Gardens. With over two decades of experience in carpentry and specialist water garden design and development, they are no strangers to complex, multi-layered projects.
Their relationship with Millboard products is captured perfectly in the words of Joe, Partner and Landscape Designer at Shade:
“Millboard is the perfect accompaniment to water – this comes from our thinking that for years decking has been laid next to water – if you think back to a jetty going out into a lake – this is how we like to think of Shade’s relationship with Millboard: artistically-planted water gardens go hand in hand with Millboard, where decking meets water – Millboard gives us the perfect possibility to achieve this.”
The finished garden is a testament to that partnership. Water, planting, stone and Millboard products come together to create a place of pure relaxation and sensory richness, tailored precisely to the homeowner’s wishes.
Video footage of the space, beautifully captured and curated by Faolan Jones, reveals just how fluidly the different elements connect. From the shimmer of the waterfalls to the grain detail on the boards, every view invites you to linger for a moment longer.
Plan your own water garden project
Thinking about introducing water features, ponds or a pergola deck into your next design?
- Order a Millboard sample to experience the texture and color of our decking up close.
- Visit a Millboard Experience Centre to see full Millboard decking installations, explore Millboard cladding options and talk through ideas in person.
- View more case studies to see how other designers and homeowners are using Millboard products to create inspiring outdoor spaces.
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