Southern Water has created a series of Drought Tolerant and Water Efficient Gardens in public places to show visitors how drought tolerant species can look attractive but are low maintenance and require no extra watering.

Our first 'dry' garden is outside the visitor centre at the biggest reservoir in the South East, Bewl Water on the Kent-Sussex border. The eye-catching garden features more than 80 plants which should be available from your local garden centre.

Horticultural student Charlie Thwaites has created a dry garden in a traitional English style with a lawn and borders at the Brinsbury campus of Chichester College, near Pulborough.

In Horsham, West Sussex, a beautiful garden centered round a sculpted totem pole has been created in conjunction with Horsham District Council, in the town's main park next to a children's playground. The totem pole shows a happy face on one side - the careful use of water - and a sad face on the other - wasting water.

At the RSPB Reserve at Pulborough Brooks visitors will find a dry garden designed by horticulturist John Marder next to the children's playground.

In Crawley town centre, in West Sussex, next to the main shopping centre, a water efficient garden has been developed at the Memorial Gardens, which is popular with office workers and residents, in conjunction with Crawley Borough Council.

At Testwood Lakes, near Southampton, John Marder has again created a flourishing garden outside the visitor centre which is managed by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

On Worthing seafront, in West Sussex, we have worked with the borough council to develop an attractive amenity for visitors and residents - our most ambitious garden to date at 100 metres by 20 metres with local schools involved in the planting.

All our water efficient gardens have information boards explaining how the gardens were made and identifying the plants.

To choose water efficient plants for your garden use our interactive plant guide.