ArchesArches not only create a frame on which to grow climbing plants such as clematis or honeysuckle; they can also add visual height to an otherwise flat garden, frame a particular vista or form an architectural feature in their own right. They could also be combined them with a bespoke seat or bench to create a unique arbour?
Woven hazel or wattle arches
I create two basic styles of wattle (split hazel) arch; the round top and the gothic arch. Both are structurally similar, and lend themselves perfectly to the classic English cottage garden. The round top version forms a very simple rustic shape while the gothic version adds that extra elegance.
As with any outdoor wattle product, the lifespan of these arches is relatively short. Every piece of woodcraft varies because of the individual nature of the material, but I would usually expect them to have a working life of about 7 years. Obviously growing climbers over an arch will help protect it and bind it together.
One the whole, these arches are made in a standard sized mould (although bespoke ones can sometimes be made depending on the dimensions).
Round top arch is 4ft wide (gap) x 7ft high x 1–4 ft deep.
Gothic arch is 5ft 4 inches (gap) x 8ft high x 1–4 ft deep. |
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Sweet chestnut arches
Sweet chestnut offers considerably more scope for creativity than wattle, and so the styles of arches made from this material are only limited by the imagination of the creator and the material to hand. Their visual and physical weight can be dramatically varied to create, at one end of the spectrum, a relatively light airy structure or, at the other, something monumental.
Preservative free - perfect for the organic garden
Sweet chestnut needs no treatment with preservative as its high tanin content makes it as durable as oak outdoors. The life expectancy of these arches (depending on size and location) can range from 10 years to 40+.
The standard styles of sweet chestnut arch I make fall into two broad categories; flat top or pitched top. Unlike the wattle arches that are made in a mould, these arches are very much more flexible in that their width, height and depth can be tailor-made to fit any gap.
Bespoke design
If you wish to order an arch, the best thing to do is to give me the size of the gap it is to go in and let me quote you on the specific size. Also, if you send me a photo of the site, I might be able to suggest alternative designs that I think would suit the location.
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General Enquiries
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