We have been busy stretching our wings and installing three very different Pergolas across the country.

Angled Pergola, Bradfield, north of Sheffield.

Based on the Pergola we made for the Gold award winning garden at the Chatsworth RHS show by Phil Hurst Garden Design, but with a more substantial structure and ground connection, with the garden again designed by Phil. The seating area has an amazing south vista over the peak district. structure from Steambent Oak and Douglas Fir

Fairhaven Lake Lytham [neat Blackpool], Promenade Traditional Pergola

Sandwiched between two low buildings the pergola is to act as a focus of redevelopment for the popular coastal promenade. Made exclusively from UK grown freshly cut Douglas Fir, the 5x5m structure has been made using traditional green timber jointing techniques- draw doweled mortise and tenon and cog joints, with modern steel box section shoes to keep the wood dry and away from the very nearby water. Three sets of double battens where added perpendicularly to the main rafters to clamp them and stop them excessively moving as they reach moisture equilibrium with their surroundings.

Kiwi Fruit Hoops, Anglesey North Wales.

This installation was based on the Fruit Hoops installation at Kew, which in turn is based on our Hoop Shelter. However for this project the pergola was stretched over 40m snaking its way up an incline, and involving 20 individual hoops all set at the slope angle. As well as the open ends, alternative ways in and out where included every 5m, further complicating the ring sequence and cabling. 650m of 5mm multi-strand stainless steel wire was used along with 82 end connections, and this took almost 70 hours of cold dark December days to install. A number of varieties of Kiwi fruits are to be planted along the structure and once established and when in flower it will look stunning and hopefully provide alot of fresh fruit.