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A bollard's job is usually to control vehicle access, but the material you choose will dictate whether a space feels open or welcoming or closed-off and industrial. A timber bollard is an option built for exactly that intention.
A timber bollard can be designed for effective traffic control without the hard, urban look that comes with steel or concrete bollards. These models come with pros and cons, often dependent on the site it's built on. Consulting our buyer’s guide is essential for specification, ensuring you make the right choice before purchase.
What Is a Timber Bollard?
A timber bollard is a post made from wood that controls or restricts vehicle access to a space, usually built in a car park, footpath, cycle route, park, or heritage site. It keeps the area open and walkable for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchairs, and mobility scooter users.
Broxap's own timber bollards are available in a range of sizes, made from hardwood as standard, and can be made from softwood if needed. They are also FSC® certified (FSC-C122338), ensuring the product's material comes from responsibly managed forests.
The Pros of Timber Bollards
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A natural aesthetic that suits landscape, rural, and heritage schemes.
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An effective, low-cost alternative.
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Available in hardwood or softwood.
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Comes in a range of styles: flat, domed, chamfered, sloped, and pointed.
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Reflective strips and panels available for increased visibility.
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50mm rebates supplied as standard.
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FSC® certification available on request.
The Cons of Timber Bollards
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Lower load and impact resistance compared to steel, cast iron, or concrete.
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Softwood option weathers and degrades faster than hardwood, requiring more maintenance.
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Hardwood requires ongoing maintenance that cast iron or concrete bollards don't.
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Not a good choice for a site where a requirement is permanence and maximum durability against vehicle contact.
What’s the Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood?
The biggest factor that separates hardwood and softwood is their cell structure. Hardwood has a structure that makes it harder and more durable when turned into timber, whereas softwood is lighter and easier to process.
Hardwood timber bollards weather better and are made for higher-footfall areas or longer-term installations. However, these factors make it the more expensive option compared to softwood.
Softwood timber bollards generally require more maintenance, but are suited to areas where a shorter refresh cycle is acceptable. Unlike hardwood, it is less costly and is usually the preferred option where budget is the primary driver.
Top Timber Bollard Styles
Broxap's timber bollard range includes different top-profile options that can affect how the post looks and how it withstands weather. The options include:
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Flat top, which gives the bollard a clean, formal architectural look, best suited for a town centre, civic space, or contemporary landscape.
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Domed top, for a smooth curve that's softer and more traditional, and a common choice for park and heritage settings.
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Chamfered top, splitting the difference between a flat and domed look, a formal option without sharp edges.
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Sloped top, angled to one direction so rain runs off naturally, and is a practical choice in a rural area.
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Pointed, shaped to a point with four sloped faces, and is the most weather-resistant option for exposed, functional settings.
Where Do Timber Bollards Work Best?
Timber bollards work well in any scheme where the site calls for visible but subtle traffic control rather than a hard security boundary. For example, a timber bollard wouldn't work in car park entrances, high-vehicle-contact locations, or sites with a genuine security requirement. However, a timber bollard would work in the following sites:
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Rural and countryside routes
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Cycle paths and walkways
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Parks and green spaces
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Conservation areas and heritage sites
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Village centres
Broxap Timber Bollards
When specifying a timber bollard with Broxap, you have a range of sizes to choose from, up to 200mm in diameter and more than 1000mm high. You can also choose between hardwood and softwood, both of which are FSC® certified and can be provided on request.
Our timber bollards can be customised upon request, including reflective strip/panel options, aluminium signs and logos, and decorative tops and rebates (50mm standard).
Broxap has been manufacturing street furniture since 1946 in the UK, supplying and installing structures across the nation. Explore our range of timber bollards to see which model would work best for your site.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss specifying timber bollards on your site, or learn more about how we can work with you on your next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of timber bollards over metal or concrete?
Timber bollards control vehicle access in the same way as any other material, but with a natural appearance that suits rural, landscape and heritage settings far better than steel, cast iron or concrete. They're available in a range of top styles, can be supplied with reflective strips or panels for visibility, and are FSC® certified on request for specifiers with a sustainability requirement.
Should I choose hardwood or softwood bollards?
Hardwood is the standard choice and offers better durability and a longer lifespan with less frequent maintenance, making it well suited to higher-footfall or longer-term installations. Softwood costs less upfront but weathers faster and needs closer maintenance, so it suits schemes where budget is the priority and a shorter refresh cycle is acceptable.
What top styles are available for timber bollards?
Broxap's timber bollard range is available with flat, domed, chamfered, sloped or pointed (four-way weathered) tops, giving specifiers a way to match the bollard's appearance and weathering performance to the setting.
Are timber bollards suitable for security or vehicle protection?
No. Timber bollards are designed for traffic control and access restriction, keeping a space open to pedestrians and cyclists while limiting vehicle access. They are not a security or hostile-vehicle-mitigation (HVM) product. Where genuine vehicle-impact resistance is required, a certified security bollard range should be specified instead.
Where do timber bollards work best?
Timber bollards suit rural and countryside routes, cycle paths and walkways, parks and green spaces, conservation areas and heritage or townscape sites. In general, they can work anywhere the brief calls for visible, effective traffic control without an industrial or hard-security appearance.
Can timber bollards be made more visible in low-light or rural settings?
Yes, reflective strips and panels are available to increase the visibility of timber bollards, which is particularly useful in rural environments where a plain timber post can be harder to see at night or poor weather.