Here you will find a range of guides & FAQs to help you select the perfect item or take care of it. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Just click on the links below to head over to the relevant section.
Materials
What is cast stone?
Cast Stone or artificial stone has been used for centuries as a substitute for quarried and hand carved stone. So if one original is made and carefully carved in natural stone, a mould can be made from this original and cast stone poured into the mould providing many copies of the hand-made original faithfully reproducing the original artists work. Thus allowing an artists work to be made available at lower cost for a wider audience to appreciate.
Cast Stone Care
Over time the cast stone surface will darken and age naturally, and regular cleaning will prevent the build-up of unsightly mould. Normal soap and water is perfectly suitable.
Please do not use abrasive cleaners or wire brushes just soft sponges or nylon brushes as the surface many have been treated with sealants which can be damaged by harsh abrasives.
Birdbaths
Why choose a Birdbath?
Wild birds are one of the most wonderful attractions in any garden, and for centuries a reliable source of water has been a common feature in garden design to keep the birds visiting time and time again. Whilst the birds seem unconcerned about the aesthetics of the water source, an attractive birdbath does give the gardener the opportunity to attract the birds and have a statement ornament of real beauty. We stock a very wide range of birdbaths to suit every garden, from grand classical pieces suited to larger gardens to small rustic designs for small urban patios. So hopefully you will be able to find birdbath to sit your taste and keep the birds happy!
Where to put your birdbath?
The most important aspect of positioning your birdbath in your garden is to ensure the birds can bathe and drink with clear sight of their surroundings to have confidence they can spot incoming predators when preening, therefore the site needs to be relatively open and at least 2 metres from surrounding vegetation or trees, preferably in direct sunlight most of the day, and near a seed feeder if you have one as seed eating birds tend to need more drinking eater than birds only eating insects. The birds can then perch in the nearby trees or vegetation and survey the area before using the birdbath.
As well as siting the birdbath in a position for the birds, a beautiful cast stone birdbath, also creates a perfect focal point in your garden design, so they should be positioned in clear view from the main windows of the house overlooking the garden, terrace or patio.
Care of your birdbath?
Your birdbath will be supplied in two pieces, a domed top to contain the water and a pedestal to stand the top on which raises the water source off the ground and protects the birds from predators. These are not fixed together to allow for ease of transport, so when putting the birdbath in position the top will need to be lifted onto the pedestal. There is a risk of damage or even injury should the birdbath top be knocked off and if you have any concerns about this then this problem is easily resolved using a widely available structural adhesive such as “No Nails” or silicone to bond the two pieces together.
Over time the cast stone surface of the birdbath will darken and age naturally, and regular cleaning of the birdbath will prevent the build-up of unsightly mould, with the top being cleaned daily as the water is replenished. Normal soap and water is perfectly suitable but always ensure the surface of the top is well rinsed to keep the water attractive to the birds.
Please do not use abrasive cleaners or wire brushes just soft sponges or nylon brushes as the surface of many of the birdbaths have been treated with sealants which can be damaged by harsh abrasives.