Gardens create

Green spaces are "incredibly valuable" in terms of creating the right impression to potential buyers of a home, an industry expert has asserted.

Lucy Hall, deputy editor of BBC Gardeners World Magazine, explains that a beautiful garden can create an appropriate atmosphere from the minute people walk through the gate.

"A front garden thats predominately green immediately creates a sense of calm, even in the midst of the city," she suggests.

Continuing, Ms Hall notes that a generous decked or paved area can prove beneficial as outdoor dining becomes an increasingly popular activity.

"Were all increasingly moving our living space outside," she explains.

Concluding, Ms Hall notes that a shed or similar structure – such as a glass house – can also add value to a property, as well as providing storage space for gardening equipment.

Meanwhile, figures from the Horticultural Trades Association found that 13 per cent of the population are very keen gardeners.