Head to Nottinghamshire for an untypically English garden experience. Buddha Maitreya, a meditation master, transformed a field into a Japanese garden that has captured plaudits from everyone from Reader’s Digest to ITV. Replete with koi ponds, rock gardens and a crystal garden, it provides visitors with a very different perspective on what aspects of your garden should be prioritised. Japanese gardens are designed to imitate the essence of nature rather than its appearance and, as such, you might be surprised by the layout and contents of the Pure Land Japanese garden. Lantern lit summer evenings are the best way to take it all in.

Three very different – but equally interesting – locations in the UK that provide crucial insights into the kind of gardens you can create – with some careful planning and perseverance – at home.