Savage Works

Savage Works: handmade rusty metal garden ornaments from a British family workshop

Savage Works is a family-run business run by Mark and Lucy Savage that designs and handcrafts rusty metal garden ornaments and sculptures in Britain. The company states that the venture began with Mark making metal sculptures for the couple's own garden and gifts for friends, and that it has since grown into a family business built around original designs and careful craftsmanship.

The catalogue is aimed at gardens of varying sizes across the UK, from a single flower stake in a pot to groups of sculptures placed in a border. The pieces are presented as adding texture, shape and interest to flower borders, patios and wildlife gardens throughout the year.

Mild steel and a finish that develops outdoors

Ornaments are made from sturdy mild steel, a material the company chooses for its strength and for the natural orange rust finish it develops when left outside. Pieces are dispatched unrusted so that the weathering process can be observed in the garden; the company notes that this usually begins within a few days and develops over the following weeks, with rain, humidity and position affecting the result and giving each piece an individual finish. A pre-rusted finish can be requested by email before ordering, which adds seven days before dispatch.

The ornaments are described as designed for year-round outdoor use, with care information on each product page, particularly for designs with coated or coloured finishes. The company also warns that untreated steel can transfer rust onto light-coloured paving or stone, especially in wet weather, and suggests placing such pieces in a flower border, on gravel or in a plant pot.

Product ranges

• Rusty metal flowers: a collection of handmade metal flower ornaments, including designs such as the Rusty Metal Daffodil Flower and spring flower bundles.
• Rain catchers: decorative rain catchers and plant supports that rust with rain, plus a rain catcher fountain and a ball stake fountain.
• Bird feeders and wildlife care: rusty metal bird feeding stakes, metal bird feeding platforms, bird feeder bundles and feeding stations, bird food and a bee wildflower seed mix.
• Rusty garden ornaments and sculptures: garden ball ornaments, rusty garden spheres and other metal sculptures.
• Rusty plant pots and garden gifts: plant pots, garden gift bundles and Christmas garden gifts.

Best-sellers and prices shown on the site

Among the items the shop listed as best-sellers were a rain catcher and plant support priced from £9.99 to £55.99, a rain catcher fountain from £29.99 to £49.99, a rusty metal bird feeding stake from £30.99 to £45.99, a metal bird feeding platform from £14.99 to £44.99, a rusty metal daffodil flower from £12.99 to £47.99, garden ball ornaments from £14.99 to £74.99, a ball stake fountain at £29.99 (reduced from £34.99) and rusty garden sphere ornaments from £32.99 to £112.99. Several of these carried customer ratings displayed on the site, including 5.0 out of 5 for the rain catcher, the bird feeding stake and the daffodil, and 4.91 out of 5 for the rain catcher fountain.

Orders, delivery and customer feedback

Orders are normally dispatched within three working days, followed by two to three working days for delivery, and UK delivery is free on orders over £50. The site displayed a rating of 4.6 stars from more than 200 UK garden lovers, alongside individual customer comments praising the ornaments, the speed of service and support for a family business.

How the workshop presents itself

Savage Works describes itself as a family-run operation whose pieces are made with care and attention and handmade in Britain, and it presents its output as original garden decor rather than mass-produced items. The company also maintains a news section and publishes policies covering privacy, terms and conditions, returns and shipping.