Autumn 2011
Gstaad.
Our fencing at a Cotswolds estate. Apologies for the quality of this photo which was taken very early in the morning
and I think this might explain the casual blur. I do however like the image which I think, purely by accident, has
a painterly quality.
Taken up the hill either there was more light or I wasn't shaking so much.
Stowe Paling abutting a new dry stone wall. The estate is undergoing a marvellous transformation with much tree planting, walling, fencing and even new ha has.
June/July 2011
A pair of gates we recently installed at Charlecote Park (NT). They are split from the same trees to make a matching pair. The latch is a simple peg through a fortuitous knot in the verticals.
Our first "henge". It will last rather longer than the hazel arch it replaced.
Our first US gate installed in the sunny climes of California. The fence is of native Redwood.
A matching pair of gates that will be automated.
Kissing gate down by the Thames.
May 2011
A recently installed chicken fence in Oxfordshire.
An oak plantation from which we are currently sourcing timber. It is a remnant
of Bernwood Forest and is carpeted with bluebells and yellow archangel.
April 2011
Selecting oak. This stand has grown very slowly, possibly due to waterlogging.
The trees are nearly eighty years old but have a diameter of only about ten inches.
Thanks to Christian Conradsden, formerly of Denmark, currently UK, next NZ, for the photos.
March 2011"Hi Alex The gate has arrived and it is gorgeous! My husband thoroughly approves too. It will be hung early next week. It will not only look beautiful but will keep my four small children safely in the right part of the garden so that I can see them from the house. Many many thanks again" "Dear Alex What a fantastic piece of workmanship - the gate is incredible, even more beautiful that I could have imagined. Thank you very much. You are a very talented man. I cannot wait to get the gate installed. Thank you once again. A big thank you also to Richard your intrepid dellivery chap. I hope your business continues to prosper. With kindest regards"
Luke and Jamie cleaving in the Spring sunshine. The oak is from the Claydon Estate and is
going into posts and rails.
With the log burner in the barn going throughout the winter it seems a shame not to
use it for other purposes. The initial menu was a chicken (sourced from Rob's mum in Swanbourne)
stir fry. Made a change from the usual sandwiches.
The Electricity folk are renewing all the cables and other bits and pieces on the 440,000V
pylons nearby. They needed to build some habitat for displaced newts so we were happy to provide
a few cubic metres of sapwood. They had a rather neat machine to transport it.
December 2010
A reminder of sunnier days - cleft oak paling at NT Lyveden New Bield.
October 2010
A couple of our recent gates.
We are just starting on an order for four rail post and rail for Switzerland. Time is rather crucial on this as the holes
have to be dug and the posts in before mid November as that is when the snows come.
August/September 2010
Leaving Charlecote Park after a day putting up deer fencing. Still busy with various batten, shingle and fencing orders. We are also launching a new product, the "Oakbod" which is a fun feature/plant support for the garden. Adverts will be in Country Living from the November edition. See www.oakbods.co.uk for more details. We are also going to be starting e-commerce.
June/July 2010
We've moved house and now look out over a couple of the woods on the Claydon Estate. There are lots of red kites,
woodpeckers, barking deer (very welcome at 5AM), hares and butterflies. The above picture is of a dead burred oak
in the middle of a pasture. Magical.
The woods around here are all part of the old Bernwood Forest and coincidentally,
Finemere Wood where I started my green wood work, is only just over the lip of the hill.
We're working on :- woven oak lath and staves for a Herefordshire barn, gates for the Lake District and elsewhere,
gate and fencing for a childrens playground in Gateshead, cleft palings for NT Dunham Massey, Paling fencing for
NT Charlecote, Post and Rail for NT Stowe, pegs and battens for the Chiltern Open Air Museum plus various other odds
and ends.
"Dear Alex, Jo & team
I've not long returned from walking the dog to be greeted by a smell of oak & field view beyond your cleverly
crafted fence, the difference is huge & we're very pleased to say the least. From initial enquiry you have been
very helpful, accommodating & hard working so many thanks for your efforts, an enjoyable day today & of course,
a beautiful fence."
May 2010
A 2M high chicken fence up at Bonnington House near Edinburgh. We sent this up by pallet and it was expertly erected
on site. The grounds have the most fantastic sculpture garden and we plan to go up and have a look as soon as we can.
We are looking to expand into Europe with our gates and have therefor set up a "European Customers"
section on our sister gate site, www.cleftgate.co.uk. We have used an online translator so if anyone is
fluent in any of these languages and we're talking nonsense - please advise!
A beautiful Field Maple just at the back of our barn, just come into leaf.
Lichen, growing on a gate approx five years old.
"Alex, Here you are, a few pics of your wonderful fencing, if I get any more jobs like this I'll certainly be in touch, Many thanks." "Alex, thanks so much for the wattle. It looks awesome. We look forward to dealing with you again." March/April 2010
Gate installed at the new childrens' playground at Cliveden for the National Trust. It was
interesting the specifications to keep it child safe - gaps to be less than 8mm or more than
25mm to avoid finger entrapment and on openings with lower edge more than 600mm above the ground,
if a probe of dimensions 89mm (3.5'') x 157mm (6 1/4 '') goes through gap, a round probe of diameter
230mm (9'') should also go through. We made some cardboard cut outs with faces drawn on.
Our Landrover was stolen and used in the great Stewkley caravan heist. It was abandoned at the roadside with smashed steering lock, ignition and steering bar. The Police took swipes but things are not looking too promising on catching the villains.
February 2010
"We have been installing fencing from the Cleft Wood Company in a number of our parks
over the past four years. The fences are environmentally sustainable, fit in well with
our landscaping and have proved durable beyond our expectations. The company deliver
on time and we are very pleased with the results."Richard Strange
Landscape Architect
Ealing Borough Council
This was put up about three years ago at the ford in Thornborough. It's ageing well.
December 2009/January 2010
The weather has slowed us down slightly. Our timber is under four inches of snow and it's difficult to source more for the same reasons. The log business is doing well though!
November 2009
We're currently working in a delighful spot up in
the Chilterns installing a run of Post and Rail and a couple of gates. There are
Red Kites mewing in the tree tops and circling round the meadow (which looks as
if it would be splendid with wild flowers in the Spring). There is no traffic
noise, just the occasional scuff of riders and walkers on the bridleway alongside.
The irregularity of the rails is tamed by the discipline of the posts - it's
going to really suit this lovely place. The lads have really enjoyed it here. The only shame is that we've had to drive back in the pouring rain and dark. Three big chaps with steaming clothes in the confines of a Landrover cab through the rush hour of Aylesbury is an unwholesome scenario.
October 2009
Another lovely spot in North Bucks with some interesting games to pass lunchtime. "Hi Alex, Just a short note to say how pleased we are with the finished results now that we’ve erected the wonderful fence and gate you produced for us. I really appreciate its hand crafted nature and appearance, which we’ll no doubt enjoy for many years to come. I will take some pictures and forward them to you as soon as we get a nice sunny weekend Thanks again, Kevin" "Alex....!! It has been a madhouse here this week. Sorry to not get back to you sooner but here I am. The gate is wonderful, just wonderful. We're trying to get our paws on some posts. Will send a photo when it's up. Very best wishes, Susan " "Alex I installed the fence at the weekend and it looks fabulous. When I next have my camera handy I’ll send you a few photo’s. Many thanks for all your help and advice also; I’ll recommend you if anyone asks. Nils"
A seven feet high and five feet wide arched gate we recently installed. Fencing
will be linked in to the gate and a pair of trees planted to bring the paddock
and garden together.
September 2009
The Sylva Foundation, a tree/arboricultural charity, are felling a tree on the
Blenheim Estate and are going to demonstrate what can be done with all the timber
and wood. People are going to be making furniture, using chips for smoking, etc,
We have been asked to make shingles from the oak - so let's hope it's not too
knotted or twisted!
See the One Oak website here.
Innovative designer Simon Hasan is using our cleft
oak legs and frames for his bold combinations of craft and modernity. Seen here
at his show during the London Design Festival.
The Cleft Wood Co.
The Old Dairy
Pond Farm
Calvert Rd
Steeple Claydon
Buckingham
MK18 2HD
Tel: (01296) 730930 mailto:enquiries@cleftwood.com