Accoya wood chosen for Queen Elizabeth II memorial project

Accsys has announced that Accoya wood has been chosen for the benches within the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at London’s Regent’s Park.

The £5 million memorial honours the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and reflects her deep, personal appreciation of the outdoors.

Accoya wood has been selected as the material of choice for a central circular bench and six linear benches reportedly due to its exceptional durability and stability in outdoor environments.

With a proven above‑ground lifespan of 50 years, it is said to be ideally suited to a permanent public memorial, capable of withstanding year‑round use and changing weather conditions while remaining aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance over time.

The memorial garden has been designed by designer and manufacturer Millimetre, who worked closely with HTA Design and The Royal Parks to develop, manufacture, and install the seating.

Millimetre has experience of working with Accoya, having previously crafted Accoya seating for the Strand in London, and are currently working on Accoya structures for the Parkinson’s UK garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026.

The memorial garden landscaping design balances heavy public use with long-term sustainability. Accoya’s resistance to decay and low maintenance requirements align with this approach, helping ensure the benches, which provide seating for up to 75 people, continue to perform and age gracefully for decades.

Karn Sandilands, Director at Millimetre, said: “For a memorial like this, longevity is essential, it’s about creating something that will endure as a lasting tribute to HM the Queen’s life and legacy. Accoya allows us to make design choices with confidence, knowing the material will perform over the long term while retaining a timeless, natural quality that feels entirely appropriate to the setting.”

Laura Keily, Head of Marketing at Accsys, added: “It’s an honour for Accoya to be part of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden. We’re seeing good traction for Accoya in landscaping applications, its performance in busy public spaces makes it particularly well suited to environments where quality, comfort and durability must be maintained year after year.”

For more information, visit: http://www.accsysplc.com/