Chilstone's busy workshop is set in 35 acres of woodland with beautiful show gardens opened to the public by Alan Titchmarsh in 2007. There you'll find an array of temples, bird baths, sundials, benches, fountains and benches, all created by hand using Chilstone's unique reconstituted stone.

Although extremely popular in the Victorian era, manufacturing ornaments with composite stone had died out until Michael Dibben, the founder of Chilstone re-invented the process.

Now, Chilstone products can be seen throughout the world, for example at Hammenhog in Sweden and Japan's Barakura Gardens, and in this country's great gardens including Kew, Hever and Warwick castles, and Kensington Palace.

Handmade by craftsmen

Easily distinguished from mass produced ornaments, Chilstone products are entirely hand made with great attention to detail. They possess a finish identical to carved stone and are often based on the work of great designers and classical subjects.

Colour and texture closely resembles fine quarried stone, and the composition of the reconstituted stone encourages moss and lichen to enhance its appearance, developing an attractive patina and aged appearance that blends into the landscape.

Interestingly, Chilstone ornaments and statuary that have acquired sufficient character increase in value and can be seen as an investment as well as a beautiful garden enhancement.

Chilstone products also make wonderful gifts to mark a special occasion or to commemorate an anniversary, perhaps marked with an inscription or bearing a plaque, and the whole Chilstone range can be found on GardenSite.