Fencing for Communal Gardens: Safe and Welcoming Spaces

Communal gardens are cherished spaces that bring communities together, providing a shared environment where people can relax, socialise, and enjoy nature. These gardens come in various forms such as charity gardens, demonstration gardens, or allotments, and include those found in residential flats, commercial spaces, schools, care homes and hospitals. Fencing communal gardens is crucial in defining spaces, enhancing aesthetics, ensuring security, and adhering to regulations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the types of communal gardens, fencing options, landscaping, and the importance of security in these shared spaces.

Types of Communal Gardens

Residential Flats: These gardens are often nestled within or adjacent to apartment complexes, offering a green escape for residents. They may be a simple green space but can also include playgrounds, seating areas, and flowerbeds. Fencing around any play areas should be RoSPA approved and conform to BS EN 1176, with anti-trap properties, smooth edges, and child-safe gates.

Commercial and School Gardens: Typically larger, these gardens serve as recreational spaces or outdoor classrooms, providing areas for learning, relaxation, or corporate events. Short height fencing can help designate the space, with decorative and functional elements to add shade and privacy like shelters, trellis, and pergolas. Check out our school fencing range for more advice and products.

 

Care Home and Hospital Gardens: Designed with accessibility and tranquillity in mind, these spaces offer therapeutic environments for residents and patients, often incorporating sensory plants and water features. Depending on the location of the care home or hospital garden, if a perimeter fence is included within the design, often the perimeter fence will be an elegant railing or Bow Top style, but if the perimeter fence requires privacy or even noise reduction, then EuroGuard Combi or acoustic fencing are common choices. Decking is a popular instalment in hospitals gardens, providing a solid, level surface to help prevent slips and falls, and creating wheelchair accessible ground. Fencing should be planed rather than sawn to reduce the risk of splinters, with rounded rather than pointed tops if a paled design is chosen.

Read more about care home fencing

Charity and Demonstration Gardens: Used to showcase sustainable gardening practices or provide food for communities, these gardens emphasise educational and community engagement. Timber sleepers are often key components of these gardens, creating raised beds for gardening of all ages and abilities, and keeping the space organised and useful.

Allotments: These plots are used by individuals or groups for growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers, often within a communal space that fosters collaboration and learning. The main goal for fencing around allotments is to provide security. Vertical bar railings or mesh security fencing systems with tamper-proof fixings on the secure side of the fence, provide a secure and vandal-resistant boundary. A green polyester powder coating helps the steel fence to blend into the natural space.

Segmenting and Screening with Fencing

Fencing plays a vital role in arranging communal gardens, helping to define different areas for specific purposes. Depending on the garden's type and use, various fencing options can be employed:

Trellis: A versatile option that allows for climbing plants, adding both height and greenery. Trellis fencing can segment spaces without creating a solid visual barrier, maintaining an open and airy feel.

Timber Sleepers: These are perfect for raised beds or building low-level modular fence. Timber sleepers and Jakwall® provide a rustic aesthetic and can double as seating or retaining walls.

Full Height Fencing: In residential and care home gardens, 6ft timber or metal fences can offer privacy and security, or alternative, semi-solid designs provide a safe view to the outside world, especially around seating areas or sensitive zones.

Timber Acoustic Barriers: This type of fencing is particularly suited to corporate and school environments, where aesthetics and privacy are important. Reducing noise by up to 28dB, they improve the overall environment while their solid design provides shade and concealment.

Landscaping and Shelters in Commercial Communal Gardens

For commercial communal gardens, such as those in schools or corporate settings, landscaping plays a critical role in creating a welcoming and functional environment. Strategic use of fencing can help to create distinct zones within the garden:

Outdoor Classrooms: Schools can use fencing to delineate outdoor classrooms from play areas, using trellises or low walls built with timber sleepers or Jakwall, to create a sense of separation while maintaining visibility. Playground fencing is often used in these spaces too as it is designed for spaces where children will be in close proximity.

Corporate Gardens: In commercial settings, fencing can help screen off quieter areas for independent working or meetings, from social zones. Incorporating pergolas or shelters within these fenced areas can provide shade and seating, enhancing the garden's usability and visual interest.

Fencing for Public Communal Gardens

In public communal gardens, such as those found in charity organisations or allotments, perimeter security is essential to protect the space and its users from vandalism.

Material Choice: Timber fencing is often preferred in communal gardens to ensure the space feels welcoming. Timber fence panels installed in steel or timber posts which can be secured with screws, unlike concrete posts, prevent panels being lifted and stolen or to gain access. Where increased security is required, timber and steel mesh combination fencing such as EuroGuard® Combi provides both a secure fence with a natural element to its appearance. Longevity is key with many communal gardens as maintenance and repairs like installing a new fence is not only costly but can cause major inconvenience, but the change can also cause stress and anxiety in hospital or care home gardens. Opting for a 25 year guarantee removes the hurdle for a longer period of time.

Gated Entry: Installing gates helps prevent unauthorised access and secure the garden during closing hours. Gates can be designed to blend in with the garden’s aesthetic and match the fencing for visual cohesion.

CCTV and Lighting: Integrating CCTV cameras and proper lighting along the perimeter can deter vandalism and provide peace of mind for users, especially in larger communal spaces.

Fencing for Demarcation

Some communal gardens may not require perimeter security, but fencing can still be used to enhance the space and keep out dogs and litter. A short height fence made from timber or steel with a decorative design indicates that the space is monitored and should be treated with respect, deterring anti-social behaviour.

Regulations for Residential Flats and Bin Stores

When it comes to communal gardens in residential flats, specific regulations must be followed, particularly regarding fencing around bin stores:

Local regulations often require that bins in residential areas be adequately screened. Fencing around these areas should be tall enough to hide the bins from view or paired with planting, constructed from durable materials, and potentially have lockable gates to prevent unauthorised access and reduce the risk of arson. Depending on the number of bins, timber bin store kits can be built to secure bins and keep the area tidy.

Fencing communal gardens is not just about creating boundaries; it's about crafting spaces that are secure, functional, and inviting. Whether it's segmenting areas within a school garden, providing perimeter security for a public allotment, or adhering to regulations in residential flats, the right fencing and landscaping solutions can transform a communal garden into a well-organised, safe, and beautiful environment. As communal gardens continue to grow in popularity, thoughtful design and attention to detail will ensure these spaces remain a vibrant part of community life.