Large dense conifer hedge behind a wooden garden bench next to old fence panels — Large evergreen hedge behind a garden bench beside the old fence line

New brown overlap fence panels on concrete posts and gravel boards beside a patio and lawn — New brown overlap fence panels on concrete posts beside the patio and lawn

Faded red overlap fence with one panel collapsed onto a patio near a garden table and shed — Old weathered panels, one fallen onto the patio beside a garden table

Tall leylandii-type hedge behind a wooden bench with red fence panels at the side of the garden — Tall conifer hedge and bench with a section of the old red fence beside it

This Kidderminster garden had a run of old, red-stained fence panels, with one lying flat on the patio, next to a tall conifer hedge. The photos show the old fence as we found it, the hedge beside the work area, and the new brown overlap panels fitted along the side of the patio and lawn.

The old fence

The old panels are faded and worn, with paint flaking from the horizontal laps. One section has come away from its posts and lies across the patio, close to a metal table and chairs. The concrete posts at either end still stand, and a rendered gravel board runs along the base. A shed stands to one side. A fence in this condition is easy for the wind to finish off.

The new panels

The final photo shows fresh dark brown overlap panels set between concrete posts, on stone-effect gravel boards. They run beside the patio furniture and out across the lawn, and they sit a little higher towards the right. A tall evergreen hedge and a garden bench stand next to the line, which is worth remembering, because hedge growth can push on a fence over time.