Thanks c3e!
I will differently start to play around with my lighting and I'll start by using your examples. I wouldn't have guessed it was my lighting that was creating the poor shadows. I definetly need to study lighting a lot more like you suggest. Thanks!
Since I've started this project I have noticed that I am starting to examine the lighting where ever I go. Modelling tends to change your perspective on things the more you model it seems. 
Instead of doing the trees and flora, I'm currently slowly hammering away at the texturing process, which is probably the area I'm least confident with, so it has been a slow, but good learning process. I'm about to tackle the shingles soon.
WIP - Japanese Style Gate
https://forum.simplymaya.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24688