Outdoors Archives

Upcycled glasshouses

Are we in a new golden age of conservatories? Secondhand glazing is being given a new life as greenhouses – but far from being plant-only spaces, we visit five conservatories which double as cosy extra rooms for relaxation.

Outdoors

Shared yards

Tearing down the backyard fence or installing a gate between your house and next door sounds good in theory, but what’s it like in reality?

Sustainable Design

On the verge

Public meets private in that space between front fences and the road, which makes verge gardens a contested but exciting frontier for sustainable landscape design.

Outdoors

Getting rainwater collection right

During the millennium drought many people installed water tanks for the first time. Ten years on, as we face drought again, what more do we know about the best ways to optimise rainwater collection for your site?

Outdoors

Treat your site right

If you protect, rather than neglect, your soil and vegetation you’ll reap the rewards in your new garden, writes landscape designer Michael Tanner.

Outdoors

Sustainable stays

Make your next getaway a stay in an eco home and pick up valuable ideas for your own green renovation or build.

Outdoors

Gardening with stormwater

Don’t let all the water go down the drain: use clever landscape design to keep your garden thriving with stormwater.

Outdoors

Natural pools in depth

Natural pools are designed to minimise the environmental impact of backyard bathing, and are aesthetically beautiful too.

Outdoors

City cornucopia

Increasing wellbeing and connection to nature, reducing food miles to food metres, and turning waste streams into resources: it’s increasingly clear that urban agriculture is a vital ingredient for sustainable cities.

Outdoors

Pushing the boundaries: fence materials and design

Mara Ripani explains how to push the boundaries of sustainable design to the very edge of the property with the new abundance of fencing options.

Outdoors

Planting beyond tomorrow: selecting resilient trees for your garden

Many established trees are already stressed by climate extremes. Michael Tanner explains how to factor in the future when selecting resilient trees for your garden.

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