Fun and games

THERE are so many good reasons to invest in these gorgeous wooden garden games.

From rounders to croquet, giant dominoes to hoopla, skittles to giant jenga, they're great games that everyone can get involved with. Aside from their intrinsic simplicity and nostalgia they're bound to show a whole new generation how it's possible to have fun without the need for a console/joystick/remote control in hand. Priced from 14- 50, with the croquet game 44, they'll make a smart addition to any lawn. From Marks & Spencer Home stores.

Sexy barbecues

THERE'S really only one barbecue for the minimalist gardener. It's an Eva Solo grill fashioned from stainless steel with the cleanest, coolest lines.

The awardwinning grill comes from a Danish design house with aesthetics high on their agenda, and joins a long line of slinky Eva Solo household products that have scooped major design awards. Stocked by Equinox in Belfast, the portable drumshaped barbecue hides a gas cylinder neatly inside. It will fit snugly on a balcony too.

Its sculptural good looks ensure it will be admired long after the clocks have gone back. Available from Equinox, 32 Howard Street, Belfast; www. equinoxshop. com