“When I open the curtains in the morning, it’s the first thing I look for because there’s always something to look at. Sometimes, there are a couple of foxes padding around the edge, sometimes a group of birds looking for insects.

"I go down there every day; it’s so beautiful just to listen to the buzz, the birdsong and the trickling of the water – then you remember the bonus, the fact that you can also swim in it.”

“I can’t believe how quickly it has become the focus of the garden,” she says. “The site was always designated for a pool but I can’t imagine getting into a big blue tank of chemicals now.

"I love wildlife and I love my flowers; I write nature notes for the parish magazine and get so much inspiration from the pond. I had four great clusters of daffodils on the verges this year, and because of the water quality I’ve been able to grow some beautiful primulas – Candelabra and Florenday.

“It’s different, more established now. But when I think about it, all we’ve really done since gartenART put it in is add the flowers and a bit more gravel at the edge.

“It was made for me – dug to my height – and it’s just perfect. I can stand with my head just out of the water and watch nature at work. The water feels – how to describe it? – silky.

There’s no chemical smarting the eyes, and it’s as much of a joy out as in. The pond enhances the garden. You never have to cover it up and you would never want to because it’s worth looking at the whole time.”