Forget about stone lions and prize azaleas, one in five Britons say that if they could add one thing to their garden it would be a fountain.

According to the study from Goldfish – which is sponsoring a Mediterranean show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this summer – the gnome is sadly on his way out in terms of popularity.

Gardeners in the UK are estimated to spend up to £3.3 billion a year on their plots, with the growing popularity of home makeover shows on television, this is an industry that is set to soar.

Geoff Whitten, multiple award winner at Chelsea and creator of the Goldfish garden, commented: 'Fountains and water features have become hugely popular in recent years partly due, no doubt, to TV makeover shows. However, running water has always had its place in garden design and fountains have long implied man's power over the elements. Today, bespoke aquatic fireworks could set you back over £10,000, but most people just like the sound and movement that such features add to a garden and find babbling water a calming influence at the end of a stressful day.' However, the research suggests a new breed of gardener is emerging – one who is not content with merely tending their vegetable patch or pottering in their shed. The millennium gardener is far more experimental and is adding designer touches to the humble garden. For instance, 16 per cent of the 2,000 people polled by Goldfish said they dreamt of installing a Jacuzzi in their back garden, having been inspired by the TV show Footballer's Wives.

Fountains top the gardener's wish-list this year, proving particularly popular with Welsh respondents. Jacuzzis were the second most sought after inclusion. Most notably with respondents in the 16-19 age group. Also proving their worth were summerhouses, patio furniture, sheds and greenhouses. Gnomes came last on the wish list, with only one per cent of respondents claiming a gnome would add the finishing touch to their garden.

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