Helping You Choose the Right Fence

Choosing the right fence can be a difficult decision with so many options available on the market. Which material is best for the job? How tall should the fence be? What is the main purpose of the fence? Fencing comes in all shapes, sizes and materials. Understanding exactly what you need from your fence is crucial to choosing the right fence to meet your requirements.

Sweet chestnut wood has been in use since Roman times and remains one of the most popular fencing solutions today. Whether you’re protecting animals, securing your property or sectioning land, here are five reasons why chestnut fencing remains so popular across the UK.

Five Reasons to Choose Sweet Chestnut Fencing

Versatile

Sweet chestnut wood is suitable for all types of fencing whether you’re installing on uneven ground, require a temporary solution or you’re looking for a secure fence that’s difficult to climb over. Whatever you require when choosing the right fence, you can harness the natural beauty of your environment with a chestnut fencing solution.

Attractive

From the same family as oak, sweet chestnut has a light, natural colour with a rustic appearance. It’s ideal for rural properties, outdoor events, cottages and farms. It also complements urban settings, adding character and charm.

The simple design of chestnut fencing allows it to be versatile, suiting any environment. As chestnut fencing matures, it weathers to a natural silver grey, retaining an attractive appearance without the need for painting.

Durable

Sweet chestnut is rich in tannin, a natural preservative. This makes it extremely durable, stable and resistant to rot and insects.

Renowned for its natural stability, chestnut timber splits or “cleaves” very well along the grain, and all our products make use of this quality. Skilled craftsmen split or cleft the wood by hand so the natural grain of the wood is in tact and further able to resist rot.

Cost Effective

Sweet Chestnut wood is strong, practical and proven to stand the test of time. Made with no additional preservatives, there is no need to replace chestnut fencing regularly.

Environmentally Friendly

We’re passionate about the environment. All our chestnut fencing is made exclusively from sustainably sourced wood to ensure the ancient coppice woods of the North Downs in Kent are well managed.

Waste

Sweet chestnut does not require chemical treatment or regular replacement. There is no waste wood. We chip bent lengths to fuel our heating on site and supply local power stations with largely carbon neutral fuel, with the CO₂ absorbed as young trees grow.

Wildlife

Coppicing the wood provides a varied habitat for scores of wildlife.

Coppice woods contain seed banks which remain dormant until the wood is cut. Once cut, the sudden increase in sunlight levels trigger germination. For the first three or four years after cutting, the woods are full of plant life. The rich food sources benefit insects and songbirds, as well as providing an excellent habitat for reptiles. Slow worms often bask on the edge of tracks.

As the coppice grows and the canopy closes the light levels at ground level start to fall. Only taller plants such as broom can compete with the chestnut for light. After ten years or so only the most shade loving plants and woodland specialists adapted to low light can survive. When the coppice is cut again, the sudden increase in light triggers another explosion of growth. In our actively managed coppice, there is always a recently cut coup nearby. The populations move around, following the coppice management.

When you buy products from Torry Hill Chestnut Fencing, you are directly helping to provide the habitat for British wildlife. Plus, you are buying a truly sustainable, natural product made with no chemicals or preservatives.