Scorched oak garden bench

I'll include more pics of this area in a general garden thread/journal soon, but here is a bench I have recently made. The whole bed was at least 12'' higher, I removed an old pond and filled using the excess soil. Once as level as I could realistically get it I've used Cotswold buff to create a through path and planted each side with Hidcote Lavender to give a nice contrast in couple between the purple/white.

Finished off with two (damn heavy!) Victorian slabs I had left over from a patio years ago. The bench is constructed from English oak, top scorched giving a nice two tone effect.

 

Nice work Nick! Have you any plans for plants around it, pots/troughs etc.?

 

Thanks. Just the lavender at the moment, hoping it'll eventually end up a bit like this below. As it's about half way up the garden I want it to be a fairly formal area, should be nice with the lavender scent and a glass of wine on a summer's evening