To get a straight answer, we spoke with Matt Cooper of East Kent Yard and Paddock Maintenance. He’s well known across the South East for solid workmanship, fair dealing and a diary that’s booked months ahead. Matt’s been in the game long enough to know what works, and he shared the key things that keep his business running strong.

Experience matters, of course it does, but Matt is quick to point out that it’s not enough on its own. The contractors who stay busy are the ones who keep an open mind. He’s never been shy about mixing traditional fencing skills with newer systems that save time without compromising the job.

Then there’s the question of materials. Anyone who has had a delivery turn up late, missing half the order or not at all knows how quickly a day can go sideways. Matt avoids a lot of that hassle by sticking with McVeigh Parker for most of his supplies. He trusts the quality, but more importantly, the reliability. The materials arrive when they should, the prices are sensible and the delivery network reaches places many suppliers won’t, including one of his equestrian jobs in Jersey. When you’re running a small business, that kind of dependability is worth a lot.

Weather plays its own part too. Matt laughs about it: “Farmers and fencers are stubborn, but sometimes you’ve got to wait for the ground to be right.” Anyone who has tried knocking posts into baked summer clay or winter mud knows exactly what he means. Sometimes patience saves more time than pushing on.

One job in particular shows why Matt’s work is so well regarded. At the end of 2025, he completed a secure dog field, one of the largest single fields of its kind in the UK. The customer wanted something strong, long‑lasting and neat, so they chose all‑steel Triple X system. The system features Clipex posts, Xfence premium wire and British‑made Triple X strainers.

The customer summed it up well:

“Our ethos is to provide secure dog fields that fully meet the needs of dogs and their owners. Creating one of the largest single, secure dog fields in the UK at around 25 acres has been a significant project and investment, so choosing the right fencing was critical. We selected the Triple X fencing system because security, durability and finish matter to us and our customers.

Matt has delivered several projects for us, and his attention to detail, quality of work and reliability give us complete confidence the job would be done well.”

Matt approached the project the same way he approaches all his work: build it properly from the start. He used box assemblies for strength, even though dog fencing doesn’t take the same strain as livestock. “Clipex is designed to last around 40 years,” he says. “If the posts are going to be there that long, the rest of the line needs to match it.”

For this job he used the well‑known, high‑strength Xfence premium wire and added extra security with an additional skirt to prevent any dogs from trying to dig out under the fence line.

Combining leap‑frogging wire tensioning with good practices such as using breast blocks and Gripple tie‑backs on turn posts means there’s no need to walk back down the line, which helps save valuable installation time. Using Strainrite crimp sleeves also makes wire joins quick and straightforward, reducing installation time even further.

Among the many advantages of Clipex posts, Matt also highlights their compact size. Compared with wooden posts, they make site logistics much easier, especially when moving materials around larger areas.

His Protech post knocker handled most of the heavy work, but for tight corners and awkward spots where machinery couldn’t reach, the Easy Petrol Post Driver stepped in. It’s the sort of practical, no‑nonsense tool choice that contractors appreciate.

Matt’s success isn’t down to one magic ingredient. Every decision, from wire choice to the tools he brings on site, is made with the long term in mind. It’s that steady, practical approach that gives his projects their strength and keeps customers coming back with confidence that the work will stand up to years of weather, livestock and wear.

Fencing materials and tools used for this job