Two owls, carved deep into the backrest of a solid oak bench, looking out from the wood as though they’ve always been there. The Owl Bench is one of our enduring designs — a bench that works as garden furniture, as a school bench, as a memorial, as a golden wedding anniversary gift. The owls carry whatever meaning you bring to them: wisdom, watchfulness, presence, love.
The bench shown here went to Grove Road Primary School in Hertfordshire, arriving in September 2024. Schools and gardens across the UK have versions of this bench — each one personalised with a name, a date, or a dedication. One carries the inscription “Cinquante années de mariage” — fifty years of marriage, carved in French for a couple whose story deserved no less. Another stands in a forest setting in memory of Graham Peter Bartram, 1949–2023. The owls look the same, but no two benches ever quite are.
Andrea at Exeter Cathedral School put it simply: “The children are enjoying them immensely. All we need now is better weather!” That’s what a well-made outdoor bench does — it gets used, season after season. Made from solid oak with mortise and tenon joinery and finished with three coats of Epifanes matt varnish for lasting outdoor durability. Prices include VAT. Schools can order on invoice.
Key Features
- Two hand-carved owls on the solid oak backrest — deeply carved, detailed, permanent
- Personalisation available: names, dates, dedications, inscriptions
- Suitable as a garden bench, school bench, memorial bench, or anniversary gift
- Mortise and tenon joinery throughout — built for decades of outdoor use
- Finished with three coats of Epifanes matt varnish
- 2-seater (140cm wide); also available as 3-seater (160cm)
Dimensions
Two-seater bench (as shown)
Width: 140cm | Depth: 60cm | Height: 120cm
Three-seater bench
Width: 160cm | Depth: 60cm | Height: 120cm
Your Version
The owls stay the same; everything else is yours. Add a name, a date, a phrase, a dedication. Change nothing if you want a clean design. We’ll discuss it with you before anything is carved. Lead time is typically 4–5 weeks. Get in touch to order.
