A dream of many people is a home swimming pool, but while you may be tempted to go for the traditional chlorinated pool, a natural pool is an option that is not only cheaper to run but better for you, your family and the environment.
Those classic blue water-filled pools may have been a status symbol for many years, but today, more people are opting for a softer, more rustic look in the form of a natural pool. If you’re not sure where to begin with a natural pool, let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why installing a one could be beneficial for your garden and the advantages it offers over a traditional style pool.
What is a natural pool?
A natural pool is designed to imitate a pond or natural body of water, and they’re often irregular in shape to mimic what would be created naturally by the surrounding environment. They often have rocks, foliage and waterfalls, but the key feature of them is that they stay clean via plants rather than chemicals which makes them an eco-friendly solution.
Another pool, called a regeneration zone, is built near the main pool so that the water enters via a gravel filter or constructed wetlands to clean the water. Reed bed technology and a filtration system keep the water pumped full of oxygen and circulating, so that bacteria can’t develop, while the reed bed technology naturally filters the water.
The result is a pool that’s just as clean as a chemically-filtered pool, but minus the harsh chemicals. The most maintenance you need to worry about with a natural pool is removing larger pieces of debris from the water and perhaps replacing the filter from time to time.
The benefits of natural pools
Natural pools are beautiful to look at and can enhance the relaxing benefits of your garden, but they offer several advantages for your garden that a regular pool just can’t offer.
No chemicals
One of the main benefits of choosing a natural pool is that you can avoid the use of hazardous chemicals which is better for those using the swimming pool, as it’s less harsh on the skin, but even better for the environment. Chlorine can have a negative impact on the environment, in particular on soils, and because of the energy used to generate it.
A natural pool, on the other hand, doesn’t require any chemicals which removes this process entirely. In fact, the nutrients drawn out of the water by the bio-filter system in a natural pool can be used as a natural fertiliser for the plants elsewhere in your garden, as there aren’t any chemicals to worry about.
An abundance of foliage
As gardeners, we want our outdoor space to feel lush and colourful, and there may be the concern that adding a swimming pool will detract from that. But with a natural pool, you get the best of both worlds – a place to swim and unwind, while also enjoying the beauty of plants and flowers.
A natural pool blends in with your garden and you can choose foliage that works with the surrounding landscape to create a cohesive look which gives the illusion that your swimming pool has just naturally developed over time. From lily pads and reeds to colourful irises, there are countless aquatic plants that will add life and texture to your garden.
Attracts more wildlife to your garden
One advantage that a natural pool has over a chemically-treated pool is that it offers the opportunity to attract wildlife to your garden. From dragonflies and frogs to newts and small birds, a natural pool will eventually become a haven for countless species of wildlife, which creates a thriving ecosystem. As more species suffer as a result of climate change, having a garden that encourages wildlife is of great importance, and it adds life and interest to your outdoor space.
Develops over time
When we create a garden, we do so with the long-term in mind. Developing a garden is not an instantaneous project, in most cases. It requires time to really come to life and for the designs we have in our minds to come to fruition. And that’s really part of the joy of gardening. Installing a natural pool is very similar in that, over time, they become more beautiful and develop their own rustic look, just as they would in nature.
Natural pools are built to sustain themselves and blend with the surrounding ecosystem, and that means that they’re lower maintenance for you as an owner but also that your garden will become even more striking to look at as the years go by. From watching reeds and grasses fill out around the edge of the pool to lilies that add colour throughout the season, watching your initial pool design flourish and elevate your whole garden is part of the thrill of this style of pool.
Less water waste
Unlike a traditional pool, a natural swimming pool doesn’t constantly need emptying and refilling, so apart from the occasional top-up, you only need to fill it once. A standard swimming pool uses around 80 million litres of water in the UK from filling and refilling, so this is a huge saving and cuts your water bill down too.
Most eco-conscious gardeners are mindful of how much water they use in their garden, and while there are measures you can put in place to conserve as much water as possible, such as rain water collection and mulching flower beds, having a pool you don’t need to refill is a massive cut to your garden’s water consumption.
A natural swimming pool is incredibly adaptable and can be designed to fit with your garden’s existing style. A rustic centrepiece that offers the practicality of being able to swim every day from your own home, it’s a feature that you’ll enjoy for years to come and that will grow with your garden.