We knew our 2020 Easter weekends were going to be a little bit different this year we decided to celebrate our customer gardens and show everyone the wonderful spaces that have been created using our raised beds, ponds, walls, steps and seating.

We received lots of photos and wanted to put them all in one place so everyone can scroll through and get some garden inspiration, here you will see all kinds of WoodBlocX, the old and the new, the works-in-progress, the painted, the unpainted and everything in between.

8th April 2020 - Covid-19 update - delivery times

25th March 2020 - Covid-19 update - delivery times

As the situation in the UK is changing so rapidly we have taken the step to cut down on our warehouse staff to ensure that they can work at safe distance to each other in-line with the Scottish government guidelines, this reduction in staff means that we will not be able to despatch orders as quickly as before.

We have had to add 2-3 days to our order despatch date. When placing an order you will see and choose a delivery date which we will do our best to stick to.

Our team has been extra vigilant during the pandemic but the time has come for everyone to be at home and to stay safe, we're also conscious of the work that our courier service now needs to do in order to deliver essential supplies across the country.

24th March 2020 - Covid-19 update - delivery times

We are continuing to ship orders as usual at the moment. If we do slow down due to the number of orders we recieve or because our couriers are at capacity we will be in touch with you directly.

We know it can be massively inconvenient to have your delivery date changed so if we have to move yours back more than two weeks, and this is not satisfactory, then you will be offered a full refund.

Our priorities are to ensure our staff are safe and well so that we can continue to deliver our DIY raised bed kits direct to you at home.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their orders and feedback over the past week, your support means so much to us.

As always we're here to answer any queries you have via phone: 0800 389 1420, email [email protected] or the live chat box on the right hand side of your screen.

16th March 2020 - update

The first official day of spring is Friday and whilst our customers are generally gearing up for a super spring and summer in the garden growing plants and veg, relaxing and entertaining there is a very different feel about it this year and in light of this we wanted to update everyone on where we are as a business at the moment.

We are based in the Highlands of Scotland where there are currently very few confirmed coronavirus cases (at the moment) and whilst our delivery drivers can still work and our team is fit and well we are able to deliver our DIY kits directly to your door without a signature if you prefer, just let us know in the notes when placing your order online, or our team will also ask you this if you order by phone.

We've had some customers tell us that they are in the throes of planning for their gardens and want to be able to get on with things should they have to go into isolation but they aren't sure what the guidelines are, we checked over at www.gov.uk and this is the official recommendation: "If you have a garden, it is fine to use it as long as you keep 2 metres away from other members of your household. If possible they should use the outside area separately, if possible." Which is great news because just getting out into the fresh air and, if we're lucky, sunshine can make a world of difference.

We're here to answer any queries you have via phone: 0800 389 1420, email [email protected] or the live chat box on the right hand side of your screen.

Take care, WoodBlocX team

We asked Annabelle Padwick, the founder of Life at No.27 to share her expert advice on how gardening is a powerful therapy for positive wellbeing. Annabelle is a professional gardener, wellbeing therapist, gardening writer, public speaker and potato growing addict. Her therapeutic and educational programmes for children and adults, are proven to build confidence, teach new skills, help you make new friends and ultimately, have fun….

Gardening has incredible powers; it’s healing, comforting, joyful, exciting and totally absorbing. Getting out in the garden builds your confidence, gives you time for yourself, keeps you active, feels good between your toes and makes you both physically and mentally healthier.

It is also hard work at times and doesn’t always go to plan, just like life. I will always praise how gardening can help improve your life, as it totally changed mine. But I also recognise it isn’t always bright sunflowers, perfect roses and juicy tomatoes. This is exactly why I teach gardening to children and adults, alongside wellbeing discussions and games. Growing your own food safely teaches resilience; if a seed doesn’t germinate or a plant dies, you can try work out why and just try again. Sowing little seeds teach the power of self-care, love and nurture; give a seedling or yourself the right amount of water, food, sunlight, shade and love, then see what happens. You thrive! Plants and humans are very similar, some might just say that we have more complicated emotions. But, through experience with some of my plants, I think I find them very complicated too.

Here is just a few of my tips on how gardening can benefit you:

Time out

Grow confidence

Get active

Meet new people

Eat healthier

I love running outside to the containers and raised beds full of vegetables, immediately snacking on the nearest bean or tomato… yummy! Growing and storing your own produce keeps the winter stews coming too. The odd takeaway treat or junk cupboard dash will always stay I’m sure, but learning to grow your own food makes delicious goodness easier to grab, cook and eat!

If Annbelle's tips have given you the urge to grow something, start gardening or just make the most of your own garden then check out some of our other helpful blogs or head to the main website to find out more about about beautiful and easy to build raised beds.

To find out more about the work Annabelle does as part of the Life at No.27 social enterprise click  the logo below.

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.

Our top three raised beds for growing edibles

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.

To find how easy it is to build with WoodBlocX and to find out why our structures are so popular click here

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.

Tell us briefly how the garden was before you began updating it?

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.

What did you want to achieve from the garden?

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.

The garden before....

How did you hear about WoodBlocX?

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.

Did you look into any alternative materials for the walls and seating?

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.

How did you find working with the team and using the free bespoke design service?

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.

The garden after...

Tell us about the different elements of your new garden

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!

Our designer Lachlan says...

“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.”

If you need help transforming your garden or to find out more about our free bespoke design service click here

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...

Octagonal raised beds

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 raised beds

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

Low-level raised beds

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

Short and slim raised beds

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

Circular raised bed

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.

Rectangular raised bed

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:

• Turkish rocket
• Bath asparagus
• Perennial kale
• Sea kale
• Earth chestnut

To keep up to date with the progress of Rob’s perennial veg and to see how well his crab apple tree pollinates his apple trees over the summer follow him on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Shop our circular and rectangular raised beds here, if you can’t find what you’re looking for get in touch and use our free design service.

SIMPLE!

To browse our wide range of wooden raised beds, planters, ponds, seats, retaining wall kits, or to use our free bespoke design service click the button below.

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.

Prices and sizes

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.

Modular to suit your garden

Prices-

1. £370
2. £470
3. £345
4. £430
5. £470
6. £170

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!

Urban garden inspiration

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 – The Quiet Garden, Notting Hill

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.

Malvern Health and Wellbeing Garden

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.