Landscaping
Sleepers & Raised Beds
Hardwood sleepers are one of the most versatile and durable materials in garden landscaping. Used as retaining walls, raised bed surrounds, step risers or freestanding structures, they bring genuine warmth and mass to a garden — the kind of presence that's difficult to achieve with lighter materials.
George-Stone Gardens
Structure that earns its place in the garden.
Hardwood sleepers are one of the most versatile and durable materials in garden landscaping. Used as retaining walls, raised bed surrounds, step risers or freestanding structures, they bring genuine warmth and mass to a garden — the kind of presence that's difficult to achieve with lighter materials.
George-Stone Gardens uses properly graded hardwood and oak sleepers, cut and fixed correctly for the application. Whether you're creating a single raised bed or a series of terraced retaining walls on a sloping garden, we specify and build for longevity — not just appearance.
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Sleeper Retaining Walls & Level Changes
On sloping gardens, sleeper retaining walls are one of the most effective and visually appealing ways to create level usable areas. By introducing a series of stepped terraces, what was previously unusable slope becomes practical outdoor living or planting space.
Structural steel rods are used to secure the walls through the sleepers and into a concrete footing below, ensuring the wall can handle the lateral pressure of retained soil. We specify the engineering to match the height of the wall — a single course needs a different approach to a wall that retains a metre or more of soil.
Raised Planting Beds & Kitchen Gardens
Raised beds are one of the most practical additions to any garden. They bring planting up to a comfortable working height, allow you to specify exactly the right growing medium for what you want to grow, and they add a structured, intentional quality to the garden's design.
We build raised beds to any size and height, using hardwood sleepers that complement both traditional and contemporary gardens. Kitchen garden layouts, cutting flower borders, herb gardens near the house — we'll help you plan what works for your space and build it properly.
Sleeper Steps & Timber Structures
Sleepers also work beautifully as step risers — either within a planted bank or as part of a more formal terraced scheme. The combination of sleeper risers with gravel, paving or planted treads gives a natural, considered feel that sits comfortably in both formal and informal garden settings.
We can also incorporate sleepers into pergolas, low-level deck surrounds and freestanding structures. The material is honest, ages beautifully, and integrates well with almost any planting scheme.
Our Work
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Everything You Need to Know
From our process to project timelines, find answers to all your questions about working with George-Stone Gardens.
George-Stone Gardens — the facts
Established 2007 · Cheltenham, Gloucestershire · gsgardens.co.uk · 01242 234 929
Awards & accreditations
- RHS Gold Medal — Landscaping and build. Awarded at Tatton Park Flower Show 2023 for construction excellence. Judges cited near-faultless build standards.
- Chartered Institute of Horticulture — Gareth holds CIHort chartered professional status.
- BALI member — British Association of Landscape Industries.
- Approved Jacksons Fencing installers — trained in acoustic, timber, and security fencing systems.
Team credentials
- Laura — Principal Garden Designer. Trained at the Royal Gardens at Highgrove. Graduated under Robin Templar-Williams, 5-time RHS Gold Medallist.
- Callum — Principal Landscaper. RHS Gold Medal recipient for construction precision at Tatton Park Flower Show 2023.
- Kirsty McGeorge and Ian Stone — Co-founders. RHS Gold Medal recipients. Combined 35+ years in landscape design and construction.
Investment
- Projects from £40,000. Complete garden transformations typically £40,000 to £100,000+. Design, landscaping, and build are incorporated within a single integrated project.
- 24-month establishment support available as an optional extra following project completion.
Service area
- Primary area: Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Chipping Campden.
- Extended coverage: within 45 minutes of Cheltenham across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds AONB.
- Listed and conservation area experience across Grade II properties and AONB sites throughout the region.
Start the Conversation
Every garden starts differently. We begin by listening — about your property, how you live, and what you are hoping this outdoor space could become. You may have a clear brief or just a feeling that something needs to change. Both are the right place to start a landscaping project.
We respond to all enquiries personally. We'll get back to you within one working day.