I have just walked through the garden here at Sheffield Park and found myself unable to turn away from the wonderful effect of the first of our mirror lakes – we have five lakes, two of which are “mirrors”.

I became transfixed by the absolute peace and quiet, by the reflections of the autumn colour in the trees and shrubs, and the all round wonder of nature. Brilliant reds sitting next to golden yellows framed with shades of rich deep greens, which are further enhanced by our vast collection of conifers and evergreens. Needless to say, I took some photos.

When I got home later in the day, I downloaded the images onto a laptop and then the true brilliance of the gardens’ previous owners and designers became even more apparent. The image was completely reversible – there was no way of telling which was the right way up.

But not only do these lakes hold magical reflections, they have duplicated planting on opposite sides. By this I mean that if a weeping birch is on one side, you can look across the lake and there is another on the opposite bank. This creates an incredibly dramatic effect, yet it is so simple.

So, it got me thinking about how you and I could introduce elements of this design concept into our gardens at home. We can position mirrors to give depth to borders and to “double” our favourite plants. We can create a still pond with black water that captures the blue sky by day and the stars by night, and which projects it back to us from within our lawns. We could even replicate planting on opposite sides of our gardens.

I opted for some modern art; a simple piece that is metal with a moving part which, when positioned to catch the sunlight, offers a kaleidoscope of twisting, bending shapes. I tried this out and was delighted with the results – my garden felt refreshed, bigger and more interesting. I realised a garden must never stand still – innovation rules and change stimulates.

So, don’t be afraid to try out new ideas. Come to Sheffield Park for some inspiration this autumn, and soak up some glorious autumn colour at the same time.

  • Sheffield Park and Garden, Sheffield Park, East Sussex, TN22 3QX, Tel: 01825 790231, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffieldpark
  • Gardens, restaurant, shop and parkland open every day (except December 25)