Notes From The Nest

Why Rainwater Storage Doesn’t Have to Be Plastic

For years, the humble water butt has been something of a garden necessity rather than a garden feature. In a beautifully considered outdoor space, the conventional green or black plastic barrel is often tucked behind a shed, hidden by planting or placed wherever it will attract the least attention.

But why should something so useful have to be hidden?

A well-designed water butt can collect valuable rainwater while also complementing the architecture, materials and planting of a garden. For traditional properties, period gardens and carefully designed outdoor spaces in particular, a galvanised steel water butt offers an attractive alternative to conventional plastic rainwater tanks.

Why collect rainwater in the garden?

Collecting rainwater is one of the simplest ways to make better use of a natural resource that would otherwise disappear down a drain.

A water butt connected to a house, greenhouse, garage or outbuilding downpipe collects rainfall from the roof and stores it ready for use in the garden.

That stored rainwater can be used for jobs including watering flower beds, pots and containers, helping newly planted trees and shrubs establish, and keeping plants watered through periods of dry weather.

And, of course, there is another advantage familiar to gardeners: plants generally appreciate naturally soft rainwater.

Why choose a galvanised steel water butt?

Most readily available water butts are made from moulded plastic. They are inexpensive and practical, but they aren't always the natural choice for a garden where appearance matters.

Galvanised steel provides a very different aesthetic.

Rather than trying to disguise the water butt, it allows rainwater storage to become part of the garden itself. The material sits comfortably alongside stone, brick, timber, zinc, lead and traditional garden buildings and develops character rather than looking conspicuously modern.

For period houses, country gardens and more formal garden designs, the difference can be significant.

A water butt inspired by Georgian lead cisterns

The designs take inspiration from the decorative lead cisterns of the 18th century, examples of which can still be found at stately homes and historic houses around Britain.

Those original cisterns were functional objects, but their makers didn't treat practicality as an excuse for poor design. They were often beautifully proportioned and decorated, becoming architectural features in their own right.

Our interpretation brings that idea into the modern garden.

Rather than lead, the water butt is handcrafted from substantial 1.5mm galvanised steel and finished with an aged patina designed to sit naturally within its surroundings.

The Georgian-style water butts have a capacity of up to 330 litres, providing useful rainwater storage.

Its construction is deliberately substantial, incorporating coach bolts, while the decorative detailing gives it the character of a traditional garden feature.

Practical details matter too; a beautiful water butt still needs to work well

The tap on our large Georgian water butt is positioned high enough to make filling a watering can straightforward, rather than forcing you to manoeuvre a can awkwardly beneath a low outlet.

The brushed-chrome tap is also hose-ready, giving you the option of connecting a hose where appropriate.

For gardens where additional height is useful, a coordinating plinth is available. A protective grille can also be added.

These are small details, but they're important when choosing a water butt that will be used regularly rather than simply admired.

What size water butt do I need?

There is no single ideal water butt size for every garden.

The right capacity depends on the amount of roof area feeding the water butt, the available space and how much rainwater you are likely to use.

A larger water butt makes particular sense if you have plenty of planting to water or want to capture more rainfall when it is available.

For smaller spaces, courtyards or locations where a large tank would dominate, our Small Traditional Georgian Style Galvanised Steel Water Butt offers the same traditional approach in more compact proportions.

Where should you position a water butt?

The most useful position is generally close to a suitable rainwater downpipe, allowing water from the roof to be diverted into the tank.

But appearance deserves consideration too.

A handsome galvanised water butt doesn't necessarily need to be relegated to the back of the garden. It can sit beside a greenhouse, against an old brick wall, near a garden building or within a courtyard where its materials and proportions contribute to the setting.

In the right surroundings, it can look more like an architectural garden feature than a piece of utility equipment.

That is particularly valuable around listed, period and traditionally styled properties where an obviously modern plastic water butt can feel out of place.

Are metal water butts better than plastic water butts?

Neither material is right for every situation.

If the overriding consideration is finding the cheapest possible method of storing rainwater, a basic plastic water butt will usually win.

If longevity of appearance, materials and garden design are important considerations, however, a well-made galvanised steel water butt offers something quite different.

It is worth considering:

Appearance: galvanised steel can complement traditional and contemporary landscaping materials rather than needing to be concealed.

Construction: substantial metal construction provides a very different feel from a lightweight moulded container.

Design: a thoughtfully designed water butt can become an intentional garden feature.

Capacity: always compare actual capacities rather than assuming a physically large-looking tank necessarily stores more water.

Usability: look at details such as tap position, hose compatibility and whether a stand or plinth is available.

The best water butt isn't simply the one that holds water. It's the one that provides the storage you need, works conveniently and suits the garden in which it will live.

Can a water butt actually look good?

Absolutely — and we think this question deserves to be asked more often.

Gardens are full of functional objects that we happily choose for their appearance as well as their usefulness: benches, planters, greenhouses, gates, obelisks and tools among them.

Rainwater storage shouldn't be an exception.

Our aim with the Lesser Spotted collection is to find and create useful garden objects that don't look like an afterthought. The Georgian-style water butt embodies that philosophy particularly well: an everyday garden necessity reimagined as something worth seeing.

A more considered way to collect rainwater

As gardeners become increasingly conscious of how they use water, collecting rainfall at home makes a great deal of sense.

But sustainability and good design don't have to be opposing ideas.

A thoughtfully made water butt can conserve rainwater, make everyday garden watering more convenient and enhance rather than detract from its surroundings.

For gardeners who have spent years trying to hide their water butt, perhaps it's time to choose one you don't have to.