Garden Swing Seats

Garden swing seats, handcrafted in Britain

A swing seat changes how a garden is used. It becomes the place the day drifts towards – morning coffee, the last hour of light, the slow afternoon. Ours have been made in our South West workshops since 2004, and we remain the only bespoke swing seat, rope swing and bench makers endorsed by the RHS, with seats in place at RHS Garden Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater.

Frequently Asked Questions

As featured in:

Should I choose oak or painted Accoya?

Choose oak if you want the seat to turn silver and settle into the garden; choose painted Accoya if you want a colour that stays. Our oak is air-dried, Sterling grade European oak from Hewins Timber, used across the Tranquillity, Kyokusen and RHS Four Seasons. Our Affinity range is Accoya, a softwood modified right through so it takes up very little water, which is why paint holds on it outdoors. We spray it in your colour, in five coats. Both are built on marine-grade stainless steel fixings.

Why air-dried oak, and not kiln-dried?

Air-dried oak moves less once it is outside. Kiln-dried oak is brought down to 7 to 10% moisture for centrally heated rooms; put it in a garden and it has to take water back on, which is when it twists and splits. Ours is seasoned slowly in the open air for months rather than days, so it arrives close to the moisture level it will live at. It is the same reason our timber merchant, Hewins, recommends air-dried oak for benches and outdoor work.

What does Sterling or prime grade mean?

It means the cleanest grade of oak sold for joinery and furniture, with very few knots. Under Hewins' Sterling grade, about 70% of pieces are clear of defects on three or four faces, each piece is graded on its worst 1.5 metres, and knots over 30mm are the rare exception. Our makers then cut around what remains. A cheaper, knottier grade costs less, but every knot is a point where oak checks and moves.

Will the oak crack?

Fine checks along the grain are normal and do not weaken the seat. Oak outdoors moves between about 12% and over 20% moisture with the weather, and it shrinks almost twice as much along its growth rings as across them. The rays that give oak its figure do not move with the rest, so small checks open in dry spells and close again in wet ones. Air-drying keeps this to a minimum; no oak avoids it entirely. Anything structural is covered by our guarantee.

Why does oak turn silver, and can I stop it?

Oak turns silver because sunlight breaks down lignin in the outer layer and rain washes it away; the timber beneath is unchanged. Most seats go an even silver-grey after one or two summers. Oil slows the change but will not reverse it. We suggest leaving a new seat unoiled for two to three years, then feeding it each spring if you prefer a warmer tone. Our oldest Kyokusen has been outside for 20 years.

How long is the guarantee, and what does Accoya's 25 years cover?

Every new swing seat carries our five-year guarantee against faults in materials or workmanship; if a fault is ours, we put it right at our cost. Painted Accoya also carries Accoya's own warranty on the timber: 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground contact. That is the manufacturer's promise that the wood will not rot. Neither covers the natural ageing of timber, such as colour change or surface checks.

How much space does a swing seat need?

Plan for the frame plus 50cm clear in front and behind. Frames are 2.3 x 1.6m for a two-seat, 2.6 x 1.6m for a three-seat and 2.9 x 1.6m for a four-seat, all about 2m high. The same footprints apply to the Tranquillity, Affinity and Kyokusen and to our pergolas. Each seat is made by hand, so sizes can vary by a centimetre or two. Wait until your seat is delivered before laying slabs for the feet.

Which back style should I choose?

There are six back styles: Fan, Heart, Slat, Curve, Swirl and Arc. The Fan is the most traditional; the Slat and Arc are cleaner and suit contemporary gardens; the Curve follows the body most closely; the Swirl suits informal planting; the Heart is often chosen for anniversaries. Our classic benches take the same backs, so a bench can match the seat across the lawn. 

How much does a swing seat cost, and what's included?

Swing seats with their own oak frame start from £4,224 and seat-only versions, for hanging from a tree or pergola, from £2,885. The price includes VAT, the five-year guarantee and the seat finished before it leaves the workshop. Delivery is priced by postcode, from £180 for a swing seat with frame, and assembly in place is £60. Most seats are made to order in 4 to 6 weeks.

Can I hang a swing seat from a tree or my own beam?

Yes, if the bough or beam is sound and sized for a moving load. We make seat-only versions with stainless steel shackles and pivots for beams and boughs. Send us photographs and measurements of the branch or beam and we will tell you whether it will carry a swinging seat, and at what height. If it will not, a seat in its own oak frame needs no support at all.

Where can I sit on one before I buy?

At our show garden at Forde Abbey, near Chard, by appointment, or at one of the gardens, hotels and estates where our seats are placed. These include RHS Gardens Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater, Kiftsgate Court, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and Dumfries House. Call us on 01297 443084 before a special trip and we will check the seat is in place. The full list is on our swing seat map.

A gentle rhythm, in their own gardens

Our swing seats have settled into country gardens, walled courtyards and terraces across the UK – chosen by people who value the slow afternoon and the quiet sway. Read what they had to say.