Perhaps it was a reaction, or ‘counterpoint’ to the natural and grassy planting this year, but the seating options seemed dominated by the sleek, the white and the slidey. Moulded or woven plastic was a trending material, with the rustic taking a back, um, seat.
Even the wooden benches in Joe Swift’s and Jo Thompson’s gardens were finely-batoned, sinuously curved and, in Thompson’s design, elevated from a rill on a steel tube leg. But are they comfy? Do I want to sit on them?
The winning comfy seat for me was the big sofa of the Trailfinder’s garden. But even that was snow white (do they take all the cushion in when it rains? …in the autumn?). Perhaps Cleve West’s traditional, robust stone bench was my surprise sneak winner after all.
