Our gardens are not just places to grow flowers and vegetables. They are where we relax, where we entertain, where we express our personality. So it’s hardly surprising that more and more people are creating living spaces in their gardens. Where once we made do with some fencing and a shed, we now indulge in decking and pergolas, garden rooms and dovecots, conservatories and gazebos, stables and log cabins.

For all these structures, wood is naturally at home in your garden. It’s environmentally friendly, and it won’t look out of place.

It's strong, light, and easy to build with.

But using wood outdoors means you need to make sure your structure has been made from a softwood which has been pressure treated with a suitable preservative (like Osmose Naturewood or Arch Tanalith E), or from a naturally durable hardwood.

Softwood should be given an annual coating of a garden wood treatment (like Sadolin) to keep its looks and extend its life.

If you choose hardwood, look for a label to show it has been sourced sustainably. There is a wide range of timber species to choose from, varying in colour, strength and natural durability. Advice on different species may be gained from your local supplier or from TRADA.

Most garden structures can be bought in kit form from your local DIY store. If you can't find what you want there, you'll find plenty of specialist firms to make your dream come true.

If you're building it yourself, don't forget to specify pressure treated timber. You'll find guides to building your own shed, fencing and decking, later in this section.