Saughton Park is one of Edinburgh’s top ten parks, close the river Leith it has facilities for sports, recreation and has a rich history of growing plants for medicinal purposes. The park’s walled and physic garden is where the term ‘occupational therapy’ was coined thanks to the pioneering horticultural work of Dr William Lowe more than 100 years ago.
The Physic and Kitchen Garden, as it is now known, recently underwent a huge transformation, plans to replace the 1950’s sensory garden for the blind, which had fallen into disrepair, began at the start of 2019 and resulted in 17 large WoodBlocX raised were installed with several structures featuring integrated seating to create a functional space for both visitors and volunteers to enjoy.
The garden is looked after by Friends of Saughton Park, which is split into different groups and look after various parts of the park, the Physic Garden team, who were keen for the garden to appeal to all ages and abilities, designed and planted it. The group is also known as the 'lotions and potions' group, each of the WoodBlocX wooden raised beds that make up the garden each relate to different parts of the body, the plants within a particular bed each have medicinal properties relating to a particular part of the body. The central raised beds have been designed around parts of the body and the plants chosen are beneficial for that area, or ailments or diseases affecting it e.g. the heart bed contains foxgloves which have been used in the treatment of heart conditions since the 1700s; the oncology bed contains snowdrops whose active component is galanthamine, which used in anti-cancer treatments.
Raised Bed Best Seller
Size: 2.25 x 1.125 x 0.45m
Price: £344.00
A perfect size for a small vegetable, fruit or herb patch, or for adding some ornamental planting to any area, this raised bed is proportioned to be half as wide as it is long. It is narrow enough to reach all the plants without having to step on to the bed itself. The extra height also makes maintaining the plants that little bit easier on the back and knees, or for tending from a (wheel)chair.
L-Shaped Raised Garden Bed
Size: 2.625 x 1.125 x 0.75 x 0.35m
Price: £340.20
A big upright and a small sticky-outy-bit, this L-shaped kit is perfect for awkward corners that have just a small bit of cornering to do, for instance coming into a gate or the end of a wall by a door.
Octagonal Raised Bed
Size: 1.65 x 0.45m
Price: £344.20
This planter would make a striking centrepiece to a front or back garden or patio, and could be used for planting almost anything. It is deep enough to accommodate a small specimen tree or shrub that could be underplanted with bulbs or shade-loving plants.
When you get the keys to your new build home, the excitement factor is high, everything is fresh and pristine and then you peer out the window and the outdoor space is generally anything but inspiring.
Simon and his partner got the keys to their new home in August 2018 and it is safe to say that their garden wasn’t much of a garden at all, here’s their story.
As with most new builds, the house builder provided us with topsoil and slabs, nothing more. Our garden also had a gradient, sloping away from the house, which made the space mostly unusable.
We wanted to create the ideal space for entertaining friends and family and give it a sense of purpose. We’re also keen gardeners, but sadly we don’t have much free time. With this in mind, we also wanted to create space for plants that would be easy to maintain.
When we decided that we needed to level off the garden we started searching online for retaining walls. A few clicks later and we arrived at the WoodBlocX website.
We considered using reclaimed railway/timber sleepers but quickly decided it wasn’t an option worth pursuing. Using sleepers would have not only cost more due to the waste, but the effort that comes with having to lift, cut and attach them together was also off putting.
Incredible. We worked with Lachlan who was extremely helpful (and patient!) as we refined our design multiple times to make it perfect. When you’re in our garden you can immediately feel that the design is unique and has been designed to fit and maximise the space.
Our garden is now split into two levels. The first level has a slate floor covering and is supported by two WoodBlocX retaining walls. We also worked an inset seating area into one of the walls maximise the space and provide a place to put the shopping down when you walk through the back gate.
We then have a semi-circular set of WoodBlocX steps that take you down to the lower level of the garden. As our neighbour’s land is around 50cm higher than ours we have a retaining wall that supports their garden along the fence - this also provides us with a perfect raised bed for growing trailing plants along the fence (currently Sweet Peas). Moving further down the garden we needed to continue the retaining wall, but we wanted to ensure there was still space for seating. The space at the bottom of our garden appeared as an obvious place for a cosy seating area, but to do this while also needing a retaining wall was a challenge. During the design process we worked with Lachlan to create the perfect shaped benches that would also act as retaining walls. This has saved us space and money as we now have permanent seating that, unlike other garden furniture, doesn’t need to be stored away during water in a shed that takes up space!
“Simon’s garden was a great project to work on and a great customer to work with. We had to go through a few iterations of the design, but this is all part of the design process. We always ensure that our customers receive exactly what they need for their project regardless of what it is they want to achieve. For an intricate full garden redesign like this one, it was paramount that we focussed on the details to squeeze the most out of the space and budget, whilst fulfilling the original brief.”
Our wooden raised bed kits are available in every size and shape from standard rectangles through to circles, our customers love using WoodBlocX because our modular system makes building them so simple, plus each structure is long-lasting and looks beautiful, here's is a look at our bestselling designs of 2019 so far...
Providing different levels and sections of planting this design is right at the top of our bestsellers list, placed against a wall or as a centre piece it provide a large and accessible growing space the interesting angular shape is completely different to standard raised beds and is ideal for anyone looking to make a statement in the garden.
Bestseller - Octagonal Dual Level Raised Bed / 2.548 x 1.524 x 0.55m
Rectangular wood raised beds are always a firm favourite, the simple shape is timeless and will work perfectly in all garden and property types from modern to traditional, place up against a wall or fence or in the open to make it accessible from all sides. WoodBlocX raised beds are a great alternative to railway sleepers, the unique design of WoodBlocX makes your structure extra-strong so it won't easily distort, unlike other wooden products, so you can be confident your raised bed will not give away.
Bestsellers
Raised Bed Best Seller / 2.25 x 1.125 x 0.45
High Raised Bed / 1.875 x 1.125 x 0.65m
Raised Bed / 1.5 x 0.75 x 0.45 m
Not everyone has a raised bed for accessibility, many of our customers simply want to create a beautiful frame for their beds and borders for growing their own fruit and vegetables or for plants and shrubs. Low level planters are ideal growing tall edibles such as broadens and raspberries and for gardening with children as they keep everything contained.
Bestsellers
Low Level Raised Bed / 1.875 x 1.125 x 0.25m
Herb Garden / 1,5 x 0,75 x 0.35m
UK gardens are getting smaller, but having a small garden doesn’t mean it can’t look stylish, by utilising the space correctly you can create something unique and beautiful, whether its a multifunctional kitchen garden our an outdoor space to relax. Our slim raised beds and planters can be used as window boxes, or use an L-shaped design to make a feature of a tired corner.
Bestsellers
Slim Raised Bed / 1.875 x 0.75 x 0.45m
Short Rectangular Raised Bed / 1.5m x 1.125m x 0.35m
Our website features hundreds of kits or all shapes and sizes for building raised beds, planters, ponds, garden furniture, walls and steps. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for get in touch with our design team who can create a something bespoke for your garden free of charge.
Rob Smith knows a thing or two about gardening, he won the 2015 BBC Big Allotment Challenge, is a regular writer for popular magazines; Kitchen Garden and Garden News, he is also a seed guardian for the Heritage Seed Library and has a range of grafted vegetables and cut flowers, its safe to say he’s a busy man!
Rob has recently installed two WoodBlocX natural wood raised beds in his kitchen garden that will be used for very different purposes. His garden is sloped and he has his work cut out with the soil, as it is mainly clay and rock, so to successfully grow anything he needs to raise the level of planting and add new soil, making raised beds are the perfect solution.
“Most of my raised beds are made from corrugated metal, so I plumped for a couple for wooden raised beds to break things up, plus they’re slightly deeper, allowing me to grow a wide variety of edibles.
"I wanted to make sure that any wooden planter I used was free from chemicals, after all I’ll be eating the plants I grow in them and don’t want anything leaching into the soil. I went for a WoodBlocX raised bed as no chemicals are used in their construction and they're easy to put together, just like giant building blocks.”
Rob Smith
Admittedly the circular bed is a little trickier to build than our other raised bed designs, due to its curves and the angles, but the challenge nor the rain on the day caused any set backs.
Rob selected the circular planter design specifically to install a flowering crab apple tree, which will help to pollinate the other eating and cooking apple varieties he grows, making it a great addition to the garden.
Since building the circular bed and planting the crab apple tree (the variety is ‘red sentinel’) the base has been planted with box hedging to divide the space into four where flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies will be added.
Lots of our customers buy our rectangular raised beds for growing edibles as the height makes planting, watering, weeding and harvesting much easier. Rob is utilising his to grow varieties of perennial vegetables, which are ideal for busy gardeners, as they will look after themselves all year round with a just little watering and mulching.
Rob’ top perennial veg varieties include:
Smart products for the garden don’t always need to involve an app or wifi, take our wooden raised beds for example, its a modular system which means the design possibilities are endless, build raised beds, planters, walls, ponds, seats, steps or a combination of all of those using the same materials, we think its pretty clever and our customers do to!
There is an element of digital wizardry though, we use specially tailored software to create our designs and make sure that bespoke designs fit perfectly to the space and terrain of the garden. We’re always working on new ideas and ways to make our easy-to-build system even easier, we’ve been busy designing, developing and testing a brand new dowel design that can be removed easily allowing our structures to be reconfigured or moved, making our products even more versatile.
There is an element of digital wizardry though, we use specially tailored software to create our designs and make sure that bespoke designs fit perfectly to the space and terrain of the garden. We’re always working on new ideas and ways to make our easy-to-build system even easier, we’ve been busy designing, developing and testing a brand new dowel design that can be removed easily allowing our structures to be reconfigured or moved, making our products even more versatile.
Our dowels have always been made from 100% recycled plastic, these, combined with the strong, rough-sawn, light-weight, pressure treated blocks made from FSC accredited scots pine create a garden structure that is solid, will not crack or distort and doesn’t need any annual maintenance.
We are extremely pleased with the new design not only because it makes the build process even simpler allowing customers to easily dismantle their WoodBlocX products if they need to move them to another position in the garden or would like to take them with them when they move house, but also because we developed them in house at our HQ up here in the Highlands of Scotland and we think that is pretty smart too!
The new dowel design is currently on available with orders over £1000 and we aim to make it available with all kits by the end of the year.
Our customers have gardens of all shapes and sizes, from brand new spaces in new-build properties, quaint old cottage gardens to smaller inner city and urban gardens. The style and finish options for our timber garden structures means that WoodBlocX raised beds, planters, steps, walls, ponds and furniture can look perfectly at home in any property type. The versatility of our modular system means you can just as easily transform a large garden as you can a small one.
One of the benefits of city garden is that they tend to be flat and with the trend to extend properties out into the rear garden, creating a kitchen dining area that can be opened up with bifold doors onto an extended living space in the warmer months. Our design team works with customers on a one-to-one basis to ensure they get the best possible solution for their gardens. One of our most popular requests is to create designs that border either a lawn or patio area to provide a place to grow colourful plants and flowers or for growing fruit, herbs and vegetables.
A customer with a city garden asked us to create a multifunctional space which needed to include space for a shed, somewhere to sit and planters for growing ornamentals. This particular project was for a family garden, therefore we used the lawn as the centrepiece and utilised the space by bordering the garden with planters and integrated seating. The result is a beautiful, low maintenance space that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.
The costs are relevant to the sizes of the structures in this example only. We can create designs that are bespoke to your garden, working to your preferred measurements and budgets.
Click on the technical image to view the dimensions of each section.
Prices-
WoodBlocX raised beds, planters, ponds, steps, walls and seating is ideal for updating a space without drafting in builders or tradespeople to help, the beauty of the system is that you don’t need any building experience or specialist tools, all of the wooden pieces are cut to size so there is no measuring, sawing or wasted wood (and trips to the tip!). The dowel system is super simple and if you go wrong they can be unscrewed. We provide a full set of instructions step-by-step instructions and if you need extra help we have made lots of short videos covering everything you need to know plus you can always give us a call and have a chat to the team. By using WoodBlocX you can transform your garden is as little as a day or on a weekend!
To find out how you can use WoodBlocX to transform your garden click here.
We have been sharing lots of tips for detoxing your garden in 2019 and creating a healthy space to relax and grow because the garden is much more than an extension of your living space.
Being outside in the fresh air with the sounds of insects humming and birds singing is one of the best kinds of escapism, whilst tending to the garden can help to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life.
We have provided our timber raised beds for a number of public gardens designed by RHS ambassador and gold medal winner, Jekka McVicar , that place health and wellbeing at the centre of the design.
St Mungos is a homeless charity and one of the largest providers of outreach services to homeless people in the UK, as part of the charities.
The Quiet Garden was created in partnership with the fragrance brand Jo Malone London as part of the Putting Down Roots project which aims to offer people a place to learn new skills and gain experience tending to the garden.
Filled with fragrant flowers and herbs to stimulate the senses. The garden is a circular design centred around a tree that was already in place, with an archway for climbers to grow up and steps leading into it. It really is a beautiful space and a great initiative for the charity’s clients to experiences the benefits that gardening can bring.
Launched at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2017 Jekka McVicar unveiled the show’s first permanent garden which was designed in support of the Pathways charity, a work-focussed day service for adults with learning disabilities and difficulties.
The design of the garden was inspired by the increasing need for reflection and escape from the stresses of modern life and seeks to preserve and share the vital knowledge of how horticulture and its associated therapies can help soothe the mind, body and soul.
Featuring curves and a central seating area we were honoured to provide the materials to build the large wooden planters with seating built-in to our modular system.
There is so much evidence to show that gardening really is beneficial to health and wellbeing and it doesn’t matter if you have a garden or not there are loads of opportunities to garden through community gardens and allotments.
If you need some inspiration for your own garden head over to our inspiration section and see how our customers have used WoodBlocX raised beds, planters, seating, walls and ponds to create a garden they love.
WoodBlocX timber raised beds, planters, ponds, walls and seats are not only loved by our customers for updating their gardens, patios and driveways, gardens, our strong and long-lasting structures can also be found in a number of other locations across the country.
Our modular system can be seen in seen at one the UK’s busiest shopping centres; Westfield Stratford City, this huge retail hub attracts more than 50 million visitors a year and thousands on a daily basis. We installed a huge cascading planter at the entrance to the centre, nestled between an escalator and steps, the bespoke container is planted out with a mixture of trees and shrubs to bring a touch of nature to this urban shopping destination. You also find our raised beds around the outside of the centre providing visitors with areas to escape the hustle and bustle of the shops.
We have also worked on roof gardens for student accommodation complexes from London to Aberdeen, creating relaxing spaces for students to unwind in that are both practical and functional. Using bespoke designs that work perfectly with the space, combining planters with integrated seating across large areas. Our raised bed designs incorporate curves and zig zags to transform the spaces along wth clever planting and lighting.
If these snap-shots have given you ideas for your own garden you can shop our range over on the website or if you have an idea and you’re not quite sure how to execute it, get in touch with our design team who will work with your ideas to create a bespoke design free of charge. Click below to find out more.
