Choosing Fencing for Cheltenham and Cotswold Gardens: A Local Buyer's Guide

Start with the style of your home

The best place to begin is your house and its surroundings. A fence that suits a modern home on the edge of Gloucester may look out of place beside a listed cottage in a Cotswold village.

Town houses and Regency terraces. Front gardens in central Cheltenham, Montpellier and Pittville suit low, open styles. Palisade fencing, also known as picket fencing, marks the boundary neatly while keeping the street view open. It also pairs well with a matching pedestrian gate.

Back gardens that need privacy. Closeboard fencing, built on site from feather edge boards, rails and posts, is the strongest and most private option. Because it is built board by board, it can follow sloping or awkward plots, which are common around Leckhampton, Charlton Kings and Prestbury. Ready made closeboard panels start from £31.52 and are quicker to fit on level ground.

Everyday garden fencing. Lap fence panels, from £25.76, are the most popular choice for garden fencing in Cheltenham. They are quick to put up and give good privacy at a sensible price.

Cottages and rural properties. Post and rail fencing and stake and rail fencing keep the open countryside feel and suit paddocks and larger plots in villages such as Bishop’s Cleeve, Winchcombe and Stow on the Wold.

Softer, natural boundaries. Hazel hurdles and trellis panels blend beautifully with planting and stone. They are ideal for screening a patio, hiding bins or adding height above an existing wall.

Choose a colour that works with Cotswold stone

Brown treated timber sits naturally alongside Cotswold stone and weathers to a soft, warm tone. Green treated timber fades to a silvery grey over time, which suits more contemporary gardens and newer homes.

If you would like something bolder, our eco friendly wood paints come in muted heritage shades as well as brighter colours. Painting a fence a soft green or grey can make a small town garden feel larger, because the boundary seems to recede into the planting.

Think bout the wind

Gardens on the escarpment and in open spots towards Cleeve Hill, Birdlip and Painswick take the full force of winter winds. A solid fence acts like a sail, and the posts take most of the strain. In exposed spots, we recommend:

• Strong posts. Our PermaTimber® posts carry a 15 year guarantee against rot and insect attack, or you can choose concrete posts and gravel boards for the longest life.
• Slatted, palisade or trellis topped designs that let some of the wind through.
• Gravel boards along the bottom, which keep the panels clear of wet ground and can be replaced on their own if they are ever damaged.

Set posts about a quarter of their length into the ground. For a 6ft fence, that means roughly 600mm, secured with rapid setting post mix.

Gates to finish the job

A new fence often needs a new gate. We stock garden gates for side passages and front paths, and driveway gates for wider openings. Every gate is pressure treated, and we can make gates to measure if your opening falls outside our standard sizes. This is particularly useful for older properties in Cheltenham and Gloucester, where openings are rarely a standard width.

Check planning before you build

In England, most garden fences up to 2 metres high do not need planning permission, or up to 1 metre next to a road used by vehicles. The rules are tighter for listed buildings and in conservation areas, and much of central Cheltenham is covered by conservation areas. Newer housing estates around Gloucester and Tewkesbury may also have covenants that limit fence height or style.

If you are unsure, check with your local council before you start. That will be Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Stroud District Council or Cotswold District Council, depending on where you live.

Don’t forget the wildlife

Hedgehogs travel a long way each night between gardens. A small gap at the bottom of your fence, around 13cm square, lets them through without letting most pets out. Ask our team about hedgehog friendly gravel boards with a ready made gap.

Supplying, not installing

We are a fencing supplier rather than a fencing contractor, but we work with a network of trusted local installers across Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. If you would rather have your new fence put up for you, see our installer network and we will help you get connected. Fencing contractors are welcome to open a trade account for trade pricing and free local delivery.

Fencing across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and beyond

Our Cheltenham yard supplies fencing and fence panels well beyond the town. We deliver to:

• Fencing in Gloucester, including Longlevens, Hucclecote, Quedgeley and Hardwicke
• Fencing in Tewkesbury and Charlton Kings
• Fencing in Stroud and Dursley
• Fencing in Cirencester and Stow on the Wold
• Fencing in Worcester, Malvern and Evesham
• Fencing in Kidderminster and Bromsgrove
• Fencing in Swindon

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy fence panels in Cheltenham? 

At our Cheltenham timber yard on Old Gloucester Road, GL51 0WS. Panels are in stock to collect, or you can order online for delivery.

Do you deliver fencing to Gloucester and Stroud? 

Yes. We deliver across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, including Gloucester, Stroud, Tewkesbury and Cirencester.

Do you install fencing? 

We supply fencing rather than install it, but our installer network can put you in touch with local fencers.

How long do your fence panels last? 

Our pressure treated fence panels carry a 10 year guarantee, and PermaTimber® posts carry a 15 year guarantee.

Visit our Cheltenham timber yard

You will find us at Old Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, GL51 0WS, open Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Come and see fence panels, posts and gates in person, or call 01242 526946 for advice and a quote. Whether you are a homeowner planning a weekend project or a contractor fencing a new development, our team is here to help.