Sustainable Style – Family Garden with Corten Steel Edging in Harpenden
The Brief
The clients — professionals working in the environmental sector — wanted a space that reflected their values while remaining practical and family-friendly. The old wooden sleepers were beginning to degrade and visually disconnect the garden from the home’s contemporary feel.
Sustainable Style
This project began with a clear purpose: to transform a garden once framed with ageing timber sleepers into something more durable, low-maintenance, and aligned with the family’s deep commitment to sustainability.
Our Solution
Our Solution was to replace the timber with precision-formed Corten Steel edging, bringing sculptural form, structural integrity, and long-term sustainability.
Her testimonial: “What a brilliant job by Craig, Charles and Ruben. Nice, friendly guys, they worked efficiently, were happy to incorporate last minute additions (fence panels and planting) and we love the final result. Replacing a raised flower bed edge (sleepers) with steel panels was inspired and looks brilliant, the rust colour is great. And the arbour on my patio (which was tricky to build!) looks perfect - I am delighted with everything they did. Highly recommended!”
Sophie - Harpenden
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♻️ Why Corten Steel?
Corten Steel is increasingly popular as a sustainable material in garden design. Its weathered patina creates a warm, natural aesthetic, while its exceptional longevity — up to 40 years — significantly reduces material replacement waste.
Low maintenance and completely recyclable
Neutral pH — no leaching, safe for soil and planting
Holds crisp curves and clean lines over time
Pairs beautifully with modern or naturalistic planting schemes
In contrast, wooden sleepers — even sustainably sourced — often degrade within 7–10 years. While trees can be replanted, the energy and carbon footprint of repeated harvesting, transport, and replacement raise important long-term sustainability questions.
“A 3mm thick Corten planter will still be 2mm thick in 40 years. That’s over five sets of timber replacements — and counting.”
🌿 Design Highlights
Corten Steel Edging throughout to define the terrace and planting beds
This project proves that good garden design can balance aesthetic beauty and environmental responsibility — and that sustainability doesn’t mean compromise.
♻️ Curious about Corten Steel?
Want to know more about Corten Steel? Craig goes into more details in our Blog:
“Why We Chose Corten Steel Over Sleepers for This Sustainable Harpenden Garden”