7-14

Landscape design

Table VI gives some minimal dimensions for the passage of

people and vehicles. These dimensions will allow people and
vehicles to pass through a gate and each other. Clearance is not
necessarily simply between gate posts the open gate may, itself,
occupy some of the available space. The dimensions assume
straight travel but if a vehicle is also negotiating a bend, then
widths will need to be greater.
7.58 to 7.64 show gate designs of different sizes and in various
materials.

7.60 Single and double farm gates

Table VI Widths of gates

Passing

Width (mm)

One person
Pram, pushchair, bicycle
Two people (just)
Wheelchair
Pram or pushchair plus a walking child
Two people (comfortably)
Two wheelchairs or prams
Small or medium car
Large car, ambulance, medium van, small or medium tractor
Car and bicycle, large tractor
Fire engine, dustcart, lorry
Two cars to pass (just)
Combine harvester, two cars (comfortably), car and lorry (just)
Any (normal) combination of two vehicles

600
800
900
1000
1150
1200
1700
2100
2400
3000
3600
4100
4800
5500

7.61 Steel bow kissing gate

a elevation

a traditional
b wood brace

c steel rod/wire with

turnbuckle

7.58 Single garden gates

d plywood panel

b plan

7.62 Kissing gate usable by a wheelchair. This type will also pass
prams and pushchairs. However, there may be a problem with
bicycles also using it

11 CHILDRENS PLAY EQUIPMENT

7.59 Farm type gate

11.01
There are now many suppliers of play equipment whose design and
appearance has changed dramatically over the last ten years.
However, what has not changed is the need for the safety of
children playing around the equipment.
7.65 to 7.69 show the distances required for safety around conventional equipment. All equipment should have impact-absorbing
surfaces wherever a child can fall. To a small child, falling on its
head a distance of no more than 150 mm can be fatal. There are a

Landscape design

7-15

7.63 Medium-duty car park barrier gate

7.64 Angle framed gates with spiked top

7.66 Arrangement of full-size swing in a park. Smaller sizes are

common

7.65 Arrangement of barriers and impact

absorbing surface for childrens swings.
L (0.866 ! distance from swing pivot to
swing seat) 1.75

7-16

Landscape design

7.69 Rocking horse. Only safe designs of this device may now be
used

7.67 Large slide for park. These are now normally installed on an
earth mound to reduce the risk of falls

7.70 Heights of guardrails for childrens play equipment

7.68 Roundabout

variety of impact-absorbing surfaces available, including loose

materials, foam rubbers, etc., but each has disadvantages. Many
are subject to damage by deliberate vandalism, some are prone to
fouling.
Wherever possible, guardrails should be provided even where an
impact-absorbing surface is used. 7.70 gives the recommended
heights of such guardrails.

12 REFERENCES
BS 5709: 2001 Gaps, Gates and Stiles
Charles W. Harris and Nicholas T. Dines, Time-saver Standards
for Landscape Architecture, McGraw-Hill, 1988
Michael Littlewood, Landscape Detailing vols 1-4, Architectural
Press, 19932001
A. E. Weddle, Landscape Techniques, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, 1979
A. A. Pinder, Beazleys Design and Detail of the Space between
Buildings, E. F. Spon, 1990
BTCV, Dry and Stone Walling, British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers, 1986
TRADA, Timber fencing, 1978
Fencing by Goodman, M. L. Goodman & Son (Bristol) Ltd, 1980