Our Garden Journal

Stories, guidance and quiet inspiration for slow living outdoors.

Choosing a Swing Seat

A considered guide to choosing the swing seat that fits your space, your pace, and how you want to feel outdoors.

Our Guide to Garden Swings

Rope Swings & Hanging Guides

Everything you need to hang a rope swing safely and beautifully, from trees and beams to pergolas.

Rope Swing Guide

Day Beds & Outdoor Living

Inspiration and practical advice for creating a calm, long-lingering day bed retreat in your garden.

Guide to Outdoor Living

Pergolas & Garden Rooms

Plan your outdoor structure with confidence, from sizing and placement to creating shelter and privacy.

Pergolas & Garden Rooms

Timber, Care & Craft

Discover the materials, finishes, and craftsmanship behind furniture built to live outdoors year-round.

Our Dorset furniture craft

Slow Living & Garden Design

Ideas for shaping a quieter garden life, with design inspiration, seasonal notes, and places worth visiting.

The art of slow living

Swing Seats

Day Beds

Rope Swings

Benches

Oak Pergolas

About

Our Garden Journal

Choosing a Swing Seat

Rope Swings & Hanging Guides

Day Beds & Outdoor Living

Pergolas & Garden Rooms

Timber, Care & Craft

Slow Living & Garden Design

Latest from the journal

Have a Seat With... Alice Meacham

Teak vs Oak: Which Wood Is Better for Garden Furniture?

Wooden Outdoor Swings That Stand the Test of Time

Best Garden Swings for Adults in 2026: A Perfect Addition to Your Outdoor Space

Should I choose wood or metal for my garden swing seat?

Thoughtful and Intentional Gardening with Anna Sisson

All articles

Have a Seat With... Alice Meacham

Wooden Outdoor Swings That Stand the Test of Time

Teak vs Oak: Which Wood Is Better for Garden Furniture?

Best Garden Swings for Adults in 2026: A Perfect Addition to Your Outdoor Space

Should I choose wood or metal for my garden swing seat?

Thoughtful and Intentional Gardening with Anna Sisson

Garden Swing Seats For Adults: Why Let The Kids Have All The Fun?

How To Incorporate a Cedar Swing Seat Into Your Garden Design

How To Maintain Your Wooden Garden Swing Seat

Do You Need Planning Permission For a Pergola?

Add Relaxing Movement To Small Outdoor Spaces With A Garden Rocking Bench

How To Grow Grape Vines On A Pergola In The UK

5 Small Garden Furniture Ideas for Outdoor Spaces

Veranda vs Pergola: Which Outdoor Structure is Right for You?

The Story of Napoleon and French Oak

Swing Seat, Hammock, Swing Chair, Swing Bench. What's in a name?

What is a Day Bed and How Can It Enhance Your Garden Space?

5 Outdoor Decking Seating Ideas for a Stylish and Comfortable Space

Best Garden Furniture: Transform Your Outdoor Space with Style

Pergola Lighting Ideas: Creative Ways to Illuminate Your Garden

Designing A Small Garden by Clarissa Judd

Have a Seat With... Ann-Marie Powell

Have a Seat With... Clive Nichols

Gardens to Visit in The West Country

Have a Seat With…Alexandra Noble

Have a Seat With…Saskia Marjoram

Creating a relaxing outdoor retreat with a pergola swing seat

Have a Seat With…Alastair Rubie

Have a Seat With…Andrew Timothy O'Brien

Have a Seat With... Juliet Sargeant

A Rough Guide to Winter Pruning by Katherine Crouch

Have a Seat With... Chris Hull

Have a Seat With... Flo Headlam

Have a Seat With... Tracy Snell

Have a Seat With... Mandy Bradshaw

Have a Seat With... Xa Tollemache

Have a Seat With... James Alexander-Sinclair

Wasps....Friend or Foe of Your Swing Seat?

Have a Seat With... Sue Biggs

Have a Seat With... Marcus Barnett

Rose Pruning By Woody

Have a Seat With... Matthew Wilson

Have a Seat With... Lee Burkhill

Have a Seat With... Rebecca of My English Country Cottage

How to hang your rope swing

How to hang a rope swing on a sloping bough

How to hang a rope swing from a beam or ceiling

Instagram Analysis of Chelsea Flower Show 2021

Have a Seat With... Steve Lannin

6 famous garden scenes from classic films

Have a Seat With... Hugo Bugg

Gardening gloves: a 6-step guide

How to make a natural kid’s sandpit for your garden

Have a Seat With... Jo Thompson

Should I keep chickens in my back garden? Pros and cons

Have a Seat With... Ellen Mary

10 garden games for kids (with no equipment!)

10 everyday items you can upcycle and use as a planter

10 of the best trees for a small garden

A Rough Guide to Winter Pruning
by Katherine Crouch