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Gemnix Terra — where legends are forged
The illuminated village seen wide: moss-roofed cottages at the base of a tree, lit towers, rope bridge and a waterfall running under a stone bridge
IntermediatePrivate garden — permanent

The illuminated garden village

A medium village that stays put: lantern-lit dwellings and a recirculating waterfall seated into a prepared bed in your own garden.

Time needed
A half-day install, then seasonal care
Size
Medium — about 120 x 90 cm
Where it belongs
Private garden — permanent
Start the stepsSafety first

Before you begin

Read this with a grown-up

Safety

  • Adult installation required. Low-voltage lighting and a water feature — follow the wiring and pump instructions exactly.
  • Never leave young children unsupervised near the pool, and keep the water shallow.
  • Contains small parts — keep away from children under 3. Drain before frost.

Nature and place

  • Private property only, and only with the property owner's agreement — this installation is not removable.
  • Keep the basin, loom and dwellings clear of tree roots, plants and existing drainage.
  • Use dusk-only lighting at the lowest setting so nocturnal wildlife is not disturbed.

Making it work for everyone

  • Leave a firm, level approach on at least one side so the village can be visited seated.
  • The lit lanterns and running water make the village easy to find and enjoy without close vision.

The build

Step by step

  1. Choose the spot once, carefully

    This village is a permanent installation, so the location is a long-term decision. Look for shade, a reachable outdoor power point and ground clear of roots, routes and mower lines.

  2. Prepare and level the bed

    An adult sets a level bed with drainage grit beneath the stream basin so water sits flat and drains away from paths and walls.

  3. Seat the water feature

    Bed the basin, fit the pump and test the waterfall with clean water before any dwellings go in. Check for splash beyond the pool and adjust the flow down.

  4. Run the lantern loom

    Route the low-voltage loom along one line, clipped clear of the water and the path. Follow the wiring instructions exactly and keep the transformer under cover.

  5. Build the village around the stream

    Place dwellings, bridges and the lit tower in small clusters with open ground between them, then name the village and write its story on a card kept indoors.

  6. Tend it through the seasons

    Check the pump and lanterns monthly, clear leaves from the pool, and drain the water feature before the first frost.

When you are finished

Write one line of the village's story, take a photograph from the same spot each season, and check the village on every visit. Lift it out before mowing, storms or the end of a permitted session.

Pieces for this build

Products used here

  • Miniature Feywild village kit laid out on moss at the base of a tree, with a tower, cottages, stone bridge, wells, market stalls, fairy figures and a small waterfall
    Coming soonFeywild villages

    Feywild Village Starter Set (working title)

    A small removable village kit for a backyard corner: two dwellings, a bridge, a sign and a lantern.

    Ages:
    Ages 5 and up with adult set-up. Contains small parts — not for children under 3.

    $89.99USD

    View details

  • Medium Feywild village at golden hour with lantern-lit towers, a rope bridge and a stone bridge over a small waterfall
    Coming soonFeywild villages

    Feywild Illuminated Village Set (working title)

    A medium permanent village installation with lantern lighting and a running waterfall stream, built to stay in place season after season.

    Ages:
    Ages 6 and up. Adult installation required — contains small parts, low-voltage lighting and a water feature.

    $189.99USD

    View details

More guides

Other villages to build

  • Private backyard

    The backyard corner village

    A first village for a shaded corner of your own garden: one dwelling, a short path and a small gathering place, all removable.

  • Approved community woodland

    The community woodland project

    A seasonal village built with a school, camp, park or community group under a written agreement with the land manager.