Sitting Spiritually Brochure - March 2021

The love affair with our gardens continues to blossom

Sitting Spiritually Ltd.

We Make The Seats, You Make The Memories

Bramble Hayes, Yawl Hill Lane, Uplyme, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3RP Tel: 01297 443084 Email: info@sittingspiritually.co.uk www.sittingspiritually.co.uk March 2021 © The Royal Horticultural Society 2021. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262. rhs.org.uk

The only bespoke swing and bench maker licensed by the RHS

Contents Environmental Ethos

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About Sitting Spiritually

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Design Process

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The RHS Serenity Cedar Range

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The Trilogy

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The Tranquillity Oak Range

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The Affinity Accoya Range

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The Kyokusen Range

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The Pergola

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Bespoke Pergolas

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The Swinging Day Bed

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The Swinging Day Bed with Cedar Roof

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The Swinging Day Bed Accessory Range

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The RHS Centenary Bench

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Classic Benches & Chairs

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The Rockabye

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High Oak Frames for Rope Swings

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Single & Two Seat Oak Rope Swings

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Round Oak Rope Swings

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Swing Seats From Trees

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Accessories 39 Carvings 41

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Pergola & Curve Back Swing Seat in the Sitting Spiritually Garden

Find A Seat Near You

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Visit Sitting Spiritually

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Contact Us

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Environmental Ethos Here at Sitting Spiritually we care about each and every piece of furniture we make. That also includes the materials we use and the team of craftsmen who work together to create our garden furniture.

Based near the beautiful town of Lyme Regis we are lucky enough to have a group of people, all within a 5 mile radius of our workshop, who are dedicated to producing our seats to the highest possible standards. From our inspirational designs to the timber we use, the chains to the metal fixings, even the paint for the Accoya range is all sourced locally.

Of course the timber is at the heart of every piece of furniture we create. We exclusively use FSC-certified wood and take immense pride in the quality of wood we source.

Our Promise For The Future For every seat you order, we will plant a tree.

We’ve always been incredibly conscious of our environmental impact and we’re constantly striving to do more. From now, for all of the swings that we make, we will plant a tree.

We are working with Creating Tomorrow’s Forests, so any future purchases you make with us will come with a certificate showing the name and location of your tree(s).

You don’t need to do or sign anything, and there are no additional costs involved. As a company, we want to help the environment, and this seemed the most relevant way for us to play our part.

Creating Tomorrows Forest’s have planted almost 8 million trees around the UK, we’re going to help them plant even more.

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Lyme Regis Harbour – Photograph by Rob Coombe

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The Design Process About Sitting Spiritually

Created by us to be perfect for you

An outstanding & dedicated local team

Celia and Martin Young

Scott McCarthy

Sitting Spiritually are proud to be the only bespoke swing and bench maker licensed by the Royal Horticultural Society. We have a team of talented local artisans working with us who have helped us to establish a prestigious reputation that has seen us go from strength to strength.

Sitting Spiritually, based in Lyme Regis, was born when we were refused entry to the National Gardens Scheme because our garden didn’t have enough seats for visitors to rest on. Having longed for a swing seat for years and finding the only ones on the market were just not up to scratch, Martin set about making his own. The completed swing seat in our garden granted us entry into the National Gardens Scheme, and so many of our admiring visitors wanted one too that Sitting Spiritually came into being.

Each seat is one of a kind, hand-crafted and beautifully finished to an exceptional standard from concept to delivery.

Over the years Sitting Spiritually has expanded the range of products available, effortlessly combining beauty and comfort to create stunning swing seats and accessories that suit all styles of garden.

Alex De Bono

Curve Back Seat Design James Amato

All our products come with a 5 Year Guarantee Visit our website to see full details Greg Shannon

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Neil Lancaster

The Sitting Spiritually Team Of Craftsmen

Our seats have been ergonomically designed and thoroughly tested to ensure optimum levels of comfort and stability. The fixings we use allow the chair to subtly adjust as it swings, creating a supremely smooth and balanced experience. After all, to be Sitting Spiritually you must be sitting comfortably.

Fan Back Seat Design

Heart Back Seat Design

Slat Back Seat Design

Swirl Back Seat Design

Many Sitting Spiritually designs draw influence from the spectacular Dorset coast and countryside, inspiring distinctive touches like intricate carvings, exquisite ammonites inlaid into the wood, or your very own wording – unique to every commission. We carefully select each piece of timber to ensure the colour, wood grain and finished shape all work in harmony.

Every Sitting Spiritually seat is unique, once you have selected your seat shape (as seen above) it is time to select your timber.

Choose from the natural finish of sturdy FSC Oak, the warm and durable Western Red Cedar or Accoya that can be painted in the colour of your choice. Call us to discuss your design requirements on 01297 443084.

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The RHS Serenity Cedar Range Hand crafted from Western Red Cedar These timeless pieces are made using Western Red Cedar (thuja plicate), a material renowned for natural durability.

This innate stability and natural oil content means it is thoroughly protected against decay, making it ideal for outdoor garden furniture.

RHS Serenity 2 Seater Heart Back

RHS Serenity 3 Seater Swirl Back

Sourced from PEFC managed woodland, the warm ruddy apricot colour of the timber gradually mellows to a pewter grey after about a year of exposure to the elements. It blends beautifully alongside many types of garden buildings and makes an excellent back drop for plants.

Like all Sitting Spiritually garden furniture, it can be left outside all year round.

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The RHS Serenity 4 Seater Fan Back

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The Trilogy Range FSC Oak or Western Red Cedar One frame, three seats – so everyone can join in. You choose the best seating arrangements for you, whether that is one four-seater, individual single seats or rope swings. It’s entirely up to you. The seat is available in Tranquillity Oak or Serenity Western Red Cedar.

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The Trilogy in Oak - Option 1

Option 1: Two Rope Swings

Option 2: Four Seater Fan Back

Option 3: Single Swing Seat and Rope Swing

Option 4: Two Individual Swing Seats

It is likely to be in your life for a while and your family’s needs may well change over the years, so here are the options available, which you can add to at any time. Mix and match as you like – as your family’s lifestyle changes, so can your Trilogy.

The Trilogy Frame is also available with extra height, the same as our Single High Frame for rope swings.

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The Tranquillity Oak Range Beautifully Durable FSC Sourced Oak Precision joinery and quality slow-grown Oak come together in the Tranquillity Swing Seat to offer a long lasting, classic, and incredibly comfortable garden swing. This range of garden swing seats encompasses the beauty and durability of FSC Oak and requires no external treatment. When you first take delivery of a Tranquillity the wood is a warm golden colour that changes over time to a stunning soft pewter grey.

Tranquillity 3 Seater Fan Back

Tranquillity 3 Seater Heart Back

We use seasoned FSC Oak which has bags of character and means each swing seat is truly one of a kind.

The Tranquillity also looks great as a seat only option, perhaps hanging from a tree or other structure, see page 37.

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The Tranquillity 3 Seater Heart Back

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Affinity Accoya 3 Seater Fan Back

The Affinity Accoya Range Stunning Painted Finish, Unrivalled Durability Combining modern techniques and classic design the Affinity Swing Seat in Painted Accoya® redefines the benchmark for painted garden furniture. More and more we are seeing painted garden furniture in a variety of colour schemes, the Affinity range combines that style with the unrivalled performance of Accoya® wood – which has a 25-year warranty.

Accoya® long life treated wood is the timber industry benchmark for performance and sustainability. No other timber can offer this combination of stability, durability, and versatility.

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The Affinity Accoya 3 Seater Fan Back

Affinity Accoya 3 Seater Fan Back

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The Kyokusen Curves in the air created from FSC Oak Kyokusen is Japanese for “curves in the air”. Cut from primegrade FSC Oak, this singularly stunning seat frame draws inspiration from the Torri Gate, a traditional Japanese shrine gate, adding natural serenity to any garden.

Kyokusen 3 Seater Curve Back

Kyokusen 3 Seater Swirl Back

Each seat follows the natural curves of the individual piece of timber, so each frame and seat are utterly unique. You could say it’s “contoured for comfort.” This is an incredibly special swing seat – visually distinctive, comfortable, and relaxing.

Beautiful to behold and naturally long-lasting.

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Oak Kyokusen 2 Seater Fan Back

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Oak Pergola & Tranquillity 2 Seater Curve Back

The Pergola FSC Sourced Oak or Larch Each Sitting Spiritually Pergola is handcrafted from scratch by expert joiners in our workshops, using only FSC certified Oak or Larch. They are designed for robustness and durability, using extra large timbers to add strength and stability.

Each Pergola is delivered as a kit that has been pre-built in our workshop, ensuring the bespoke timbers slot neatly and simply into the joints when constructed on site. They can be secured into the ground with concrete or fixed to a suitable solid surface.

Our Pergolas can be used to hang two, three or four seater swing seats. We are also happy to discuss your own bespoke pergola design, whether specified by your garden designer or yourself.

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Oak Pergola & Tranquillity 2 Seater Curve Back

The Pergola drinks shelf is a handy accessory for drinks and more

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Bespoke Pergola with Tranquillity 4 Seater Fan Back

Bespoke Pergolas Created by craftsmen for your exacting standards In addition to our usual pergola, we offer larger, bespoke built pergolas to suit any area. Pergolas can be a stunning addition to any garden; an impressive, eye-catching feature that creates a room-like outdoor space, a perfect spot for al fresco dining and barbecues, or just a place to retreat to and unwind after a hard day’s work. We can design and build a pergola just from the dimensions of the space, or we can work from basic line drawings supplied to us by yourself or your garden designer.

While our expert team of joiners use FSC certified oak or larch to build our pergolas, other woods and finishes are readily available.

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Bespoke Pergola in Douglas Fir

Add a swing seat to your Bespoke Pergola to relax and enjoy your garden view

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The Swinging Day Bed Sleep out under the stars on a FSC Oak Day Bed Laying back on the Swinging Day Bed lends a sense of sheer relaxation and opulence – to sit or sleep, for yourself or for the family, the choice is yours. Made in Oak for longevity and strength, it will naturally fade over time to a majestic, attractive silvery grey. This is available either to hang from your own structure or from our bespoke pergola.

The Swinging Day Bed & Pergola

Style your Day Bed to your own taste with a choice of waterproof cushions

The Swinging Day Bed comes with lots of comfortable cushions for absolute luxury, and optional glass and bottle holders mean a glass of something is within arm’s reach.

With a wide choice of weather resistant fabrics to choose from, you can style your swinging day bed to your own taste.

Universally relaxing and utterly resplendent, this spectacular piece has room for everyone.

See pages 25 and 26 for all our Day Bed accessories.

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The Swinging Day Bed

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The Swinging Day Bed with Cedar Roof The ultimate lounging experience, whatever the weather We are thrilled to announce a new product in our range.

Inspired by a Sitting Spiritually customer’s request, we have created the absolute pinnacle of opulence and outdoor luxury.

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The Swinging Day Bed with Cedar Roof

Experience the very best in alfresco comfort and relaxation

Weather-resistant cushions, and drinks holders at your fingertips

The durable handmade cedar shingle roof offers character and charm

Oak underboard ensures a beautiful finish from all angles

The frame is made from sold oak and the handmade cedar shingle roof with oak underboard provides a beautifully elegant canopy for shade through the heat of the day and warmth through those long summer evenings. This lovingly handcrafted piece has been made entirely at our Devon workshop, using the finest materials available. The sturdy structure is built to last and will sit happily in your garden space for years to come. Just sit back, stretch your legs out, and enjoy your new favourite place to relax throughout the seasons.

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The Swinging Day Bed Accessory Range A selection of accessories to enhance your Day Bed Add extra layers of comfort and practicality, whilst protecting your Swinging Day Bed from the outdoor elements.

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The Swinging Day Bed with Waterproof Cover and UV Screens

Day Bed Mattress

Day Bed Cushions

Bottle Holder

Glasses Holder

Waterproof Cover

UV Screen

Removable Restraining Straps

Stainless Suspension Springs

Fixing Down Shoe

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The RHS Centenary Bench Beautiful FSC Sourced Oak carved seat To celebrate 100 Years of Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 we teamed up with the RHS to create this beautiful three seater bench. Inspired by the designs of the Arts & Crafts Movement, this stylish yet sturdy bench is made from kiln dried prime grade FSC Oak and under license to the RHS, it is limited to only 100 editions. Edition No 1 is at The RHS Garden Hyde Hall.

Detail of CRM Mackintosh Inspired Carved Rose

The RHS Centenary Bench

The Centenary Bench has The Arts and Crafts Movement at its heart, which was the predominant style of the first RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 1913. The architects and pioneers of this design movement were intimately aware of the relationship between house and garden, and this inspiration follows to the Centenary Bench.

Our thanks goes to Paul Reeves, the pre-eminent specialist in British Arts and Crafts, for his advice and encouragement.

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The RHS Centenary Bench

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Classic Chairs & Benches Beautiful stand alone or a matching set Our range of exceptional garden chairs and benches are perfect for those who like to sit and watch the world go by.

They are all made to match the designs of our swing seats.

The Rockabye Unique seat with a built in rocking mechanism This is a unique garden seat encompassing the peace and enjoyment of a rocking bench, but without the space requirements of an ‘A’ frame.

Tranquillity Slat Back Benches

Tranquillity Fan Back Chair

Harmony Rockabye 2 Seater Fan Back

The Knole Bench

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The Knole Bench - Armrest fully down

We use only FSC Oak and Western Red Cedar - renowned for its character and innate durability. Furniture built with these high quality materials enjoys their beauty and durability, with their natural golden colour eventually weathering to silver.

This is garden furniture that doesn’t need to be hidden away for the winter – enjoy it all year round.

Tranquillity Rockabye 2 Seater Swirl Back

The rocking mechanism on our Rockabye Bench is built in, so you can enjoy the gentle rocking motions without compromising on space or beauty.

This is just the thing for your veranda or roof garden in a stunning contemporary design, incorporating all the usual high quality timber and stainless steel components of any Sitting Spiritually piece. Both the Rockabye and our bench ranges are made to match our swing seats, making for a beautiful seating collection in your garden just for you.

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High Oak Frames for Rope Swings & Trilogy’s FSC Sourced Oak If a rope swing would be perfect for your garden, but you don’t have somewhere suitable to hang it, then our High Oak Frames offer the perfect solution. These sturdy, beautiful frames made from solid FSC Oak have a large footprint, so you can swing to your heart’s content. Fixing down kits are available.

High Oak Frame with Rope Swing

Trilogy Frame with extra height, shown with Rope Swing and Single Swing Seat

They can be made for both single and two seat swings, and as with most Sitting Spiritually products, personalisation – such as bespoke carvings – is only an idea away. We have designed our High Oak Frames to measure 2m wide by 2.2m deep and a height of 2.7m so they have great swinging potential, but are secure and sturdy for safety and peace of mind.

If the recipient of the swing is a little younger, we also offer a smaller sized frame measuring 2 metres high.

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High Oak Frames For Rope Swings

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Single & Two Seat Rope Swings FSC Sourced Oak carved seat Our oak tree swings are as beautiful as they are prestigious – we are the only swing makers licensed by the RHS. Our swings are tested annually by The Big Tree Climbing Company on behalf of the National Trust to ensure our design and manufacture are safe and second to none.

Single Rope Swing with Inscription

Double Rope Swing

Rope Ball Swing

We use seasoned oak and they take on a unique silver hue, as is the nature of this beautiful hardwood, which helps form their individually unique characters. All edges are rounded to help protect from knocks, and it is braced underneath for added strength and security.

Each swing comes with hempex ropes & simple hanging kit with full, easy to follow instructions.

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Double Rope Swing with Inscription

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Round Seated Oak Rope Swing FSC Sourced Oak Our round oak tree swings are easy to hang – just wrap the rope provided over a suitable bough, tighten our no-knots fixings, and round and round you go.

No complicated fixings to worry about. Definitely a model for children and the young at heart!

The seat measures 35cms in diameter by 5cms thick. The rope needs to be long enough to reach from floor to the underside of the bough and then allow for it to wrap around twice. If you have any queries, please call us to discuss your requirements.

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Round Seated Oak Rope Swing

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Swing Seats Suspended from trees and other structures We’re often asked if we supply our Swing Seats without our A Frames, and the simple answer is yes. Many of our Swing Seats are sold to hang from trees, existing structures, and pergolas - or just your favourite place. Every garden is, after all, unique.

Suspend from a tree

Suspend from an arbour

Suspend from a pergola

When hanging a Swing Seat from a tree, all we need from you are details on the height and circumference of the bough of the tree you would like to hang your new seat from, and we will prepare the rest for you with a sturdy stainless steel chain and protection system set to attach to the tree.

When hanging from your own existing structure, we can advise and supply all you will need to do this – call us on 01297 443084 to discuss your needs.

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Swing Seat Suspended From A Tree

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Accessories Our range of accessories makes your seat unique

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Cushions, Seat Pad and Personalised Inscription

Drinks Shelves

Ammonites

Suspension Springs

Drinks shelf made from matching timber. Perfect seat... perfect drink... perfect place.

Ammonites for your Swing Seats, usually set in the arm or back (as shown) add an authentic touch of Lyme Regis to your swing seat. Ammonites are set in resin and can, of course, be left out all year round.

For supreme comfort, our heavy duty, stainless steel suspension springs can be added to your swing seat order to make your experience feel simply weightless.

Ammonite Tables

Cushions

Shade Solutions

To accompany your seat or as a stand-alone piece of furniture, these tables celebrate the fossils found locally for a perfect accompaniment.

Sunbrella provides the ultimate in stain resistance and cleanability. Relax with the peace of mind that only comes with Sunbrella fabrics. They are easy to maintain and available in various colours (see website for details).

Whether it’s a bespoke canopy or a parasol, talk to us about our various shade solutions.

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Inscriptions & Carvings Personalise your seat with messages and carvings Whether the wooden swing seat or bespoke piece of outdoor garden furniture is for you, or as a gift, the addition of a personal inscription or carving can make it a much more special purchase. If you like, simply get in touch with us to discuss your idea to ensure a stunning result.

We are very conscientious that we get the carvings just right and have perfected a system of approval which means your finished carving is exactly what you want.

After all, this is what makes your seat unique to you.

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Personalised Inscriptions

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RHS Garden Rosemoor

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Lympstone Manor, Exmouth

Find A Seat Near You

Visit Sitting Spiritually

Visit a garden and try out our swing seats

See our seats in an inspirational garden setting

The list below provides the locations of some of our publicly viewable swing seats around the country.

We are happy to welcome visitors for a socially distanced garden show round. We’ve made all the necessary provisions to ensure that your visit will be safe. Visits are strictly limited to one group at a time.

Set in the beautiful rolling hills of Dorset, the Sitting Spiritually garden is home to an array of our swing seats. Just 5 minutes from the coast, we welcome visitors, by appointment throughout the year to come and explore our swing seats and benches in their true beauty.

Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens

Harold Hillier Gardens

RHS Garden Wisley

Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4JT

Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0QA

Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB

Alexandra Hotel

Lympstone Manor

RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3HZ

Exmouth EX8 3NZ

Chelmsford CM3 8ET

Bishop’s Palace

National Trust - Tintinhull

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD

Tintinhull, Yeovil BA22 8PZ

Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB

Burrow Farm Gardens

National Trust - Washington Old Hall

The Seaside Boarding House

Dalwood, Axminster EX13 7ET

Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 7LE

Burton Bradstock, Bridport DT6 4RB

Dower House Hotel

Peter Beales Roses Ltd

The Deer Park Hotel

Rousdon, Lyme Regis, DT7 3RB

Norwich, Norfolk NR17 1AY

Weston, Honiton EX14 3PG

Dumfries House

RHS Garden Bridgewater

The Pig at Combe

Cumnock, Ayrshire KA18 2NJ

Manchester M28 1LF

Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AD

Forde Abbey

RHS Garden Rosemoor

Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU

Torrington, North Devon EX38 8PH

Visit our website, click “Find a seat near you” and enter your postcode to see a map with our swing seats at various locations around the country.

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Simply Get In Touch Always happy to discuss your dream seat We are a phone call away – talking to us can be the easiest way to find out more about our products. Somewhere at Sitting Spiritually there is something that’s perfect for you, whether complete with an A frame or as a seat only for your pergola, arbour or gazebo.

If you’d like a quotation, or wish to visit us and see our seats in our stunning show garden, or simply discuss our products, please call 01297 443084. Or, if you prefer send an email to info@sittingspiritually.co.uk For more information, visit our website and complete the online form for a no obligation quote at sittingspiritually.co.uk.

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The Cobb, Lyme Regis - Photograph by Rob Coombe