If the view from your back door is a jungle or a concrete slab, you might be missing a chance to raise the price of your property and enjoy a great chill-out space.

Research by the Yorkshire Bank has found that British homeowners believe that a garden is worth over £9,000 and people without one would be prepared to spend over a third of their annual income to add one to their property.

Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank's head of retail, said: 'Our research shows that gardens are highly prized and with so many willing to pay a premium for outdoor space, investing in your current garden could see the value of your house grow.'

As you would expect, people who value a garden the most are those in areas where land is at premium and the weather is sunniest. So homeowners in the South East are prepared to pay £16,363 for a garden, while those in the North East will only spend £4,463. But wherever you live, tidying up your outdoor space can be lucrative.

Irrespective of whether you're selling or staying a garden is a great addition to your home. 90 per cent of garden-owners use it at least once a week and 41 per cent use it every day! The most popular goings-on in UK gardens are socialising, kids playing, gossiping with neighbours over the fence and playing sport. But what's the top garden activity for Brits - hanging out the washing!

So get outside with that spade and start sprucing up your own outdoor space - it may just make you some money.