We are lucky enough to have some woodland in the garden, I've taken down a gazebo at the side of the house and an old shed and I'm building a Tiki Bar on decking in the middle of the woods. I'd really like to get power to it and also to fit some up lights on to some of the trees out there. The house is just behind me in this shot...


Untitled by NickGrant.co.uk, on Flickr

Should I be digging a big trench and laying armoured cable or putting up some telegraph poles and running it overhead? I'd like to fit it all up myself and then get an electrician to test and connect it. i'd also be interested on experiences of tree uplights

Bury the cables. Just make sure you map where they run

While you're at it, might you want water out there as well? If so, do it all in one hit.

Can you run it on bear sh*t?

£180 wow! Best talk to another spark, and check their rate first.

If it is a long run it may be easier / cost effective to hire a man with a mini digger to dig the trench, would easily be dug in a day, and locally would cost around £200.
You could then lay the cable, get a spark to safely connect at both ends. Then back fill the trench

Rather than a mini digger hire a trencher, basically huge earth cutting chainsaw on wheels!! Will be a lot neater than a mini digger. Then I would run swa, water, waste and then a duct with a few pull strings for future phone cat 6 etc

Make sure you get an electrician to work out the cable size for you, that looks quite a long run there. Also don't scrimp on cost and install a cable just big enough for now, think about future use too. Also as a previous poster said... Whilst you have a trench dug put in some ducting with a draw wire in case you need anything else.

I'd dig the trench - hire a mini digger. Any excuse!
If the local sparks is so expensive, find another, but get the tough stuff done and out of the way for them to keep the cost down.

Thanks for all the comments, the flamingos are going nowhere

I think I may have been doing the man over engineering thing slightly here. I've been reined in after discussing it with SWMBO. I think I will build the bar and see how much we use it first before powering it up. It's only going to be a glorified shed. Some fairy lights on an extension lead or car battery will do to get us started

Small Honda generator. Involves petrol so must be the ideal PH solution.

A couple of car batteries hidden in the gazebo seats, this will be able to power quite a few 4 Watt lights around the inner, and a 20Watt flood for the table for eating or drinking.

Add a car radio and a couple of boat speakers you have your little oasis.

Extension cord out for charging as necc, a lot less often than one would think.

PS you do need to wire the radio the same as it is in a car or you will lose your station presets, which is very annoying.