Sleepers | Railway Sleepers | Softwood Sleepers

Sleepers are frequently used in garden design because they are so strong and versatile. They have a multitude of uses and are popular among landscape gardeners, amateur gardeners, farmers, businesses and DIY enthusiasts. Sleepers are an attractive substitute to a brick wall and can also be used to create raised flower beds, vegetable patches, decking and even steps or garden furniture.

Nelson Potter Limited sell a range of new and treated sleepers which give an attractive and contemporary look to a garden. Our sleepers include oak sleepers, softwood sleepers, peeled softwood sleepers and gravel board for creating raised beds.

Sleepers - click here to browse our full range of wooden sleepers, railway sleepers and softwood sleepers

What are Sleepers?

Traditionally made of hardwoods such as oak, sleepers (also known as railway sleepers) are heavy and solid beams used as a base for laying railway tracks. Now they are widely used by landscape gardeners as well as DIYers as they are visually appealing, exceptionally long lasting and can be stacked or used individually.

Sleepers can be made of hard or soft woods, although they are traditionally made of oak. They present a good alternative to gravel boards for raised beds as they are more solid and retain a larger volume of soil.

Nelson Potter’s 120 mm – 220 mm Peeled Softwood Sleepers are 2.4 m long, stackable and have natural two log edge faces for a rustic, country effect. Our most popular 2.4 m long sleepers are the 225 mm x 115 mm Softwood Sleepers in green or brown. We can cut these to length and also offer a re-treating service.

Our newest product is the 2.4 m oak sleepers which are long-lasting and offer superb value for money. They are available in three different thicknesses. Our gravel board is a cheaper and less bulky alternative to railway sleepers and these come in four lengths 1.828 m, 2.4 m, 3 m, 3.6 m. 

Sleepers - click here to browse our full range of wooden sleepers, railway sleepers and softwood sleepers

Uses for Sleepers

The use of sleepers in garden design has grown dramatically over the years as people are constantly thinking up new and innovative ideas for them. One of the most common uses for new sleepers or railway sleepers is to create raised flower beds or vegetable gardens. They can also be used as a support to put sheds on or fasten decking to, either in gardens or allotments. Sleepers in gardens can be used to build attractive garden steps or stacked to create a compost bin. They are also frequently used for decking, pond edging or as borders or dividers alongside driveways or pathways.

A wonderful imaginative use for sleepers are to transform them into useful garden furniture such as benches, tables or chairs. They can also be used in adventure playgrounds or to create tree houses or totem poles. Some have also been known to be transformed into beautiful sculptures. Your imagination is the limit! Sleepers can be made from hard or soft wood and can either be new or reclaimed.

In the countryside, farmers use sleepers for gate and fence posts or cattle pens, sugar beet pens. They make great fishing platforms or bridges across streams. Railway sleepers can also be used as jetties or as river or lake embankment supports.

Inside the home, sleepers can be used as door and window lintels, for fireplaces or they can be transformed into attractive tables.

Sleepers for raised flower beds can be either creosote treated, or left natural for a more rustic look. However, since June 2003 creosote treated sleepers have a restricted use. They cannot be used in areas where there is frequent skin contact, such as in children’s play areas or inside houses or in places where there is a likelihood of food contamination. As a result of the change in legislation, we offer an environmentally friendly pressure treatment for sleepers, which conforms to British standards – BS8417 (BSEN3351)

Sleepers - click here to browse our full range of wooden sleepers, railway sleepers and softwood sleepers

About Us

If you are looking for railway sleepers in Suffolk or Essex area we are the ideal choice. You can find us at The Sawmill, Hatchley Barn, Bromeswell, Woodbridge, and we also have a retail yard at Nelson Potter (Dodnash) Limited, Bergholt Road, Bentley, which is just off the A12 on the outskirts of Ipswich. We offer a local delivery service to customers throughout Suffolk and Essex.