People have been putting decorative statues in gardens for thousands of years, since the days of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks.

They were once the prerogative of the wealthy but, thanks to modern techniques, just about anyone who fancies a Venus or David adorning their perennial border can have one.

Bourne Buildings in Farnham has gained a well-earned reputation for having one of the largest selections of garden ornaments in the country, with more than 5,000 to choose from.

Debbie McKay, one of the company’s owners, says business has boomed in the last 13 years.

The selection on offer is enormous and there is something to suit all sizes of gardens and tastes.

The statues and ornaments on sale are made from a tough, frost-proof material.

It is essentially crushed stone which has been reconstituted and then moulded to the required shape.

“This is why they’re such a reasonable price,” said Debbie. “Hand-carved statues would be very expensive.”

All the statues are made in the UK and come from a number of factories across the country.

The colour of the statues will reflect the type of stone used according to the various locations, and the level of detailing will depend on the type of mix used.

“Manufacturers use either a dry or wet mix,” said Debbie. “Statues made using a wet mix are cheaper and, therefore, they’re the most popular, but dry mix gives greater definition.

“But you have to remember that these statues are for the garden. They’re not porcelain ornaments for the mantelpiece.

“Sometimes people do put our statues in their houses. The bathing lady or the girl with the jug look very effective in the bathroom and people like to put the busts on stands in the hallway.”

Interestingly, according to Debbie, the Buddhas are the centre's biggest sellers, along with gargoyles and animals.

“People like the cats and dogs, particularly if they have lost an animal,” said Debbie.

“The birdbaths are also very popular, but my personal favourites are the female statues on plinths because they’re so elegant, and the sundials because they actually do something.”

The premises of Bourne Buildings is like an Aladdin’s cave of statuary.

Everywhere you look there are garden ornaments either on display or tucked away, so it is no surprise that customers sometimes spend several hours searching for that perfect piece.

To ensure that your ornament will be of the right proportions for your garden, Debbie advises putting a ‘mock-up’ in the spot where your statue will stand.

“Place something there, say a pile of buckets, to determine the right height of statue for your garden, and then bring a tape measure with you when you come to choose,” she said.

“If you have a statue that looks a little on the large side when you put it in the garden, simply plant bushes around it and this will give the illusion of making it appear smaller and will help it to blend in.

“Similarly, if your statue starts to look a little dwarfed as your plants grow, just raise it by placing it on a plinth.

“One thing I would add when choosing the right location, is to remember that these statues are very heavy. If you have pets or children, make sure you don’t site your statue in a spot where it might get knocked over and cause an injury.”

Despite garden-makeover programmes on TV which might make you think otherwise, traditional statues are generally what people want.

“Style is personal but very modern designs aren’t popular any more,” continued Debbie.

“I think this is because they don’t have the long-term appeal of the more traditional ones and they don’t suit the types of gardens that people have.

“A traditional one has a relaxing feel, although of our more modern designs, the Easter Island heads are popular.

“We also have some amusing statues, like the beer drinkers, and stone garden gnomes.”

A backdrop of greenery will complement a statue, but it’s when they start to show signs of ageing that the statues really start to come into their own.

To encourage ageing, all the statues at the premises are left outside.

Once the customer has taken their selection home, there are one or two things they can do to speed up the process.

“The idea is to get lichen over the statue and to achieve a weathered effect,” said Debbie.
“By placing the statue near greenery, you will encourage the growth of lichen.

“Spreading yoghurt over your statue will also do this and is a rather less smelly and messy method than using cow manure, which is another good way to get plenty of lichen.”

Prices of the statues vary from £10 to about £250, with a birdbath being around £30 on average.
Because the prices are so affordable, they make lovely presents which, as Debbie points out, are personal and long-lasting.

“People buy them for Christmas, birthdays and for anniversaries,” she said.

“We also find that some people get the bug and start a collection. And if they do, they will always find something new and different here to tempt them.”

For details of opening hours call 01252 718481.