The Natural Pool at the Yorkshire Spa Retreat
Natural Beauty, Built to Last
| Location | Yorkshire |
|---|---|
| Design & Contracting | Ellicar |
MILLBOARD ENHANCED GRAIN DECKING AT YORKSHIRE’S AWARD-WINNING NATURAL POOL
Nestled within the grounds of Yorkshire Spa Retreat, one of the UK’s first commercial spa natural pools offers guests something genuinely rare: the chance to swim in biologically filtered, chemical-free water, entirely immersed in nature. It is a bold concept, and one that demanded equally considered design choices at every turn, including the decking that surrounds it.
The project has since been recognised at the highest level of the industry, with Ellicar, specialists in natural pools and ecological landscapes, winning Gold in the Commercial Garden category at the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) Awards 2026, with judges noting the exceptional standard of landscape contracting on display.
A PROJECT WITH PURPOSE
Designed and built by Ellicar, the Natural Pool was designed specifically for commercial use, accommodating up to 40 guests per day, every day of the year. With a footprint of nearly 400m², it serves as the focal point of the spa garden, encircled by sensory, pollinator-friendly planting and relaxation spaces where guests unwind between treatments, watching swallows dip and dragonflies skim across the water’s surface.
Thoughtful engineering sits quietly beneath the scenes. Mineral and biological filters are positioned under the sun decks themselves, optimising the usable space while drawing guests close to the water’s edge. The swim zone measures 13 metres by 4.5 metres, with a generous curving regeneration zone where aquatic plants carry out hydro-botanical filtration. Within six months of opening, the pool had already attracted amphibians, newts, bats and a wealth of pond life, becoming a genuine haven for both people and wildlife.
For a project so deeply rooted in the natural world, the surrounding decking needed to work hard while remaining visually sympathetic to everything around it.
CHOOSING MILLBOARD ENHANCED GRAIN DECKING
Millboard Enhanced Grain decking was selected to border the natural pool and sun deck areas. The choice was driven by a combination of aesthetic and practical requirements that, in a commercial outdoor setting with water involved, could not be compromised on.
“Having a wild swim pond within this commercial environment of a spa has been an exciting journey for us.”
The team at Yorkshire Spa Retreat were clear that the product had to complement the naturalistic feel of the pool and its surroundings. The refined grain finish of Millboard Enhanced Grain resin mineral composite decking is hand moulded from specially selected oak timber masters, capturing the subtle nuances, and intricate grain detail of natural wood with an authenticity that sets it apart from some cheaper composite decking alternatives. Hand coloured to bring out its organic patina, the Golden Oak colourway sits comfortably alongside the aquatic planting, water lilies and marginal grasses that frame the pool. Where timber decking might have felt appropriate in aesthetic terms, it may have fallen short on almost every practical measure.
PERFORMANCE WHERE IT MATTERS MOST
In a poolside environment, slip resistance is not a secondary consideration. It is a fundamental safety requirement. Millboard Enhanced Grain decking offers exceptional slip resistance, even when wet, giving spa operators and their guests genuine confidence underfoot. The board’s surface is finished with a Lastane surface layer, a proprietary material developed by Millboard that functions much like the sole of a sports shoe: grippy and responsive, with a soft, tactile quality that is also comfortable underfoot.
For a spa where guests are moving between water and dry areas throughout the day, this matters considerably, providing genuine reassurance and allowing guests to move freely and confidently in a relaxed setting.
BUILT TO LAST IN THE BRITISH CLIMATE
Yorkshire’s climate is not forgiving. A commercial outdoor installation needs to perform reliably through wet winters, frost, and everything else the British weather delivers. Millboard Enhanced Grain decking is engineered with exactly this in mind.
Because the boards contain no wood, there is no substrate for mould or algae to take hold in the way that conventional timber decking allows. Mould growth is not only unsightly; it can create a dangerously slippery surface. The boards resist warping, rotting and splintering, and are UV stabilised to help retain their colour and character over time. Beyond an occasional seasonal wash, no staining, oiling or ongoing maintenance treatment is required.
This low-maintenance quality has proved particularly well suited to the retreat’s ethos. As the team note, the pool largely looks after itself, and so does the decking. In a commercial setting where every operational hour counts, that is a meaningful advantage.
complementing the living landscape
One of the more considered aspects of this project is how well the decking integrates with the planting scheme. The naturalistic tones of Millboard Enhanced Grain decking in Golden Oak sit comfortably alongside the greens, purples and textures of a wildflower and aquatic planting palette. Rather than competing with the landscape, the decking recedes into it, allowing the water, the plants, and the wildlife to take centre stage.
As the seasons change and the planting matures, the decking will remain a consistent, grounding element in the design, ageing gracefully without weathering in the way natural timber or some wood composite decking alternatives might.
A SPACE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW
Since opening, Yorkshire Spa Retreat’s Natural Pool has attracted guests who travel specifically to experience wild swimming in a spa setting, drawn by the health and wellbeing benefits of cold-water immersion in clean, natural water. Feedback has been exceptional. The garden continues to develop, biodiversity is increasing, and the retreat is busier than ever.
The natural pools’s Gold APL (Association of Professional Landsacpers) Award win in the Commercial Garden category is a fitting tribute to Ellicar, whose expertise in natural pools and ecological landscapes brought this ambitious project to life. It reflects not just the quality of the landscape contracting, but the ambition of a project that has genuinely raised the bar for what a commercial spa garden can be. The surrounding decking plays its quiet but essential part, providing reassurance, durability and visual harmony in a space that is, quite simply, unlike most others.
in summary
- Project: Yorkshire Spa Retreat Natural Pool
- Design & Build: Ellicar
- Photography: Mike Sannwald-Kirk
- Millboard Specification: Enhanced Grain Decking, Golden Oak
- Awards: Gold – Commercial Garden category at APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) Awards 2026
West Midlands Safari Park
Wimbledon No.1 Court
