The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:31 pm**

Hallo to the forum.

I'm a garden designer doing some research for an upcoming project. I'm looking for a cheap, environmentally-sound alternative to gravel as surfacing material for paths serving a kitchen garden and wildlife garden.

Some years ago, I saw crushed cockleshell being used to surface paths in a nature reserve run by the Trust for Urban Ecology in London; the justification being that, as a waste product from a sustainable industry, it is cheaper and more environmentally sound than gravel extraction.

My recollection is that it makes a better surface than gravel in an informal setting - nice looking, compact, non-slip, free-draining and quieter to walk on. I would also presume that, being much lighter than gravel, it should be cheaper to transport and easier to work with.

Has anybody here had personal experience working with this material, and in particular, any negative experiences? Is it actually cheaper than gravel? Can anybody direct me to supplier serving East Anglia?

Any advice much appreciated
Geometer

Posted: **Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:17 pm**

Have worked with this on a conservation project in N/ireland. Two ways to get hold of it are through pit extraction which isn't good for the enviroment and from shellfish producers/ wholesellers. This mothod is much cheaper but it smells real bad for quite a while especially on hot days. When it's crushed it can have very sharp edges which could cut children when they fall and due to its size it gets stuck in your shoe tread so no good around housing etc. We applied it thinly over mot base so prams/wheelchairs etc wouldn't bog down plus it was cheaper. Can't remember what I paid for it but it did look good.

Posted: **Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:42 am**

"The Cockleshell Path"

Google that for an interesting read.
How do i highlight what i want to quote to in blue as so many of you do. maybe if it could be stuck on the notice board for future ref'.

Posted: **Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:08 am**

Pablo
Yes, I do recall something being said about ponginess when new, but a few weeks of sun rain and ants usually deals with it. It won't be problem where I'm using it. Good points about shoes and children - not likely to be major issues, but worth bearing in mind.
Two questions: What is pit extraction? What is mot base?

Seanandruby
Thanks, I did try Googling cockleshells and found one supplier a long way away, your wording found me two more. Strange, but definitely progress.

Cheers
Geometer

Posted: **Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:25 pm**

Last October I had a long chat with a guy looking to expand the use of shells in the paving/hard-landscaping world. Here's the website - his name is Andy Fitzgerald.

Posted: **Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:34 pm**

Tony, that's brilliant! I've contacted them.

Many, many, thanks.
Geometer

The Brew Cabin

Crushed cockleshell for paths - anybody used this?