solar lights With no cables or hassle around replacing batteries, solar lights are perfect for creating subtle effects on and around seating areas
BUYER’S GUIDE
Solar lighting PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLE
Make your evenings shine with Reviews Editor Kay Maguire’s expert guide to solar lights The garden becomes an outdoor room over the summer and as day starts to fade, well-placed lighting can help you extend the fun long into the night. Cheap and a breeze to install, solar lighting is a great option. It needs no mains electricity, so there are no messy wires causing trip hazards and with no plug sockets to worry July 2022
about, you’re free to put lights wherever you like. After the initial outlay, there are also no running costs. Lights turn on automatically at dusk and turn off at dawn, which preserves battery life and makes them maintenance-free. They’re better for garden wildlife than mainspowered lighting, too: as they tend to be dimmer, they’re less likely to confuse bats
or wake birds. They also attract fewer insects than mains-powered lights. In this buyer’s guide, our pick of solar lighting includes lanterns, spotlights and string lights. We offer expert tips on what to look out for and how they work, explain the different types of lights available, and include insight on how best to use them with wildlife in mind. GardenersWorld.com
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