<![CDATA[ - Blog]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:06:54 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Accredited Wildflower Turf Installers now in Devon!]]>Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:45:33 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/accredited-wildflower-turf-installers-now-in-devonPicture
As we are now one of the few accredited layers of Wildflower Turf in the South West, I thought it would be useful to post some information and a link to their website - http://www.wildflowerturf.co.uk/home.aspx
​I have used their standard turf on a few occasions with excellent and instant results.








​'Wildflower turf generates significant advantages over the alternative methods of establishing a wildflower habitat.

Changing colours throughout the year can be achieved, allowing for the creation of stunning wildflower meadows. The flower seeds mix in the turf is carefully chosen to produce flowering plants from early in the spring through to the middle of the autumn.
The grasses in the mix are native to the British Isles and are chosen to complement the flowers and not to compete with them, which is a common problem with conventional "wildflower plugs" or wildflower seeding. This allows the flowers to succeed rather than be swamped by the grasses, which is a common problem with conventional soil based Wildflower Turf or most wild flower seeding. The grasses are visually attractive while they seed, along side the wild flowers, and the combination provides a food source for birds and a favourable habitat for butterflies and other insects.
The formation of a dense sward of turf, combined with the large roll size, mean that this turf acts as a weed blanket where the plants grown in the turf get a head start. They are already established and so prevent the establishment of weed seeds that are inherent in the soil below the turf.
The seed mix has been designed to give a high proportion of wildflowers as well as grasses. The 50% wildflower and 50% grass mix is unusual in this type of mix and is possible due to the soil-less system.
Conventional Flower turf is typically sown at 20% wildflowers and 80% grass seeds. The great risk with this is that the grasses dominate the flowers and very few flowers grow as a result.
The plants in flower will vary through the spring and summer according to the different species of flowers in the turf. The emergence of flowers and the type of plants that flower will vary from year to year according to temperature, moisture and available nutrients. This will ensure that no two years are the same (as is the case with true wild flower meadows) and gives a constantly changing landscape.
Once established CT Flora (Wildflower Turf) has the added advantage of requiring very little maintenance. It will not require fertilizing and only needs cutting in the autumn. During establishment it would need to be watered. Weeding should not be necessary due to the weed blanket affect of the turf.'
]]><![CDATA[Devon Landscapers in Cornwall]]>Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:49:25 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/devon-landscapers-in-cornwallThe Old Rectory

Commissioned by the client, and Devon-based garden designer Conrad Batten (http://www.conradbattendesign.co.uk).

The Brief: To build two stone panels on the Summer house; Build a feature wall for the swimming pool; Construct a kitchen garden with walls leading up to it.

After building the stone panels in February, we returned to The Old Rectory in mid-March with two months to complete all of the above work.

Feature Wall

The wall was initially designed for the copper spout water feature.  Next to the pool, three beautiful pear trees had been planted the previous year.  Behind the trees; a cliff-face with flowing and twisting rock strata.  To make the wall visually more interesting, Conrad had the idea to continue the flowing strata through the feature wall.  We tried to replicate the twists and compressions within the cliff.


The Kitchen Garden & Path Walls

Starting the path walls from the bottom of the garden, we began cladding the retaining walls with a fairly even mix of Delabole and Trecarne walling stone.

Conrad was keen for us to try and thread the different colours into a ‘flow’, rather than a more obvious random pattern.  The grey/blue of the Delabole & red/pink/yellow of the Trecarne complemented each other beautifully.  We were able to pick out many quarry marks on the Trecarne stone, adding more interest to the appearance of the stonework.

To enhance the flow of the path, a dwarf wall was built parallel to the retaining wall.  

The kitchen garden is a beautifully designed area, a 16 metre diameter circle with a low wall at the front for seating, and a high wall at the back.  The copings were very tricky to build – not only on a curve, but on an incline too, with none of the copings level.  The Welsh pennant copings were ‘butt joined’ with no lime mortar showing on any of the work.  We used hydraulic lime (3.5 nhl) mixed with granite grit sand as a mortar -  building the walls to look ‘dry stone’ throughout the project.  With over 130 linear metres of copings, the work was pain-staking – sometimes only being able to lay 2 metres in a day.

With over 200 square metres built, we managed to lay the last stone at 3pm on deadline day, with all of the described work being built in just over ten weeks.


Return to the Old Rectory

We returned in September to build a flight of curved steps to a path and complete the landscaping in the kitchen garden.  The Welsh pennant steps took much time, grinding and dressing the stone to fit. We 'floated' the path along the shillet rock terrace using minimal concrete  – a lovely design again by Conrad. 
 
]]><![CDATA[Stone Art for a Pool Feature Wall - St Mawgan, Cornwall]]>Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:54:51 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/stone-art-for-a-pool-feature-wall-st-mawgan-cornwallA piece of stone art on a pool feature wall at St. Mawgan in Cornwall. A fantastic idea by Conrad Batten http://www.conradbattendesign.co.uk/. More photos and updates of this fantastic project to follow. 
]]><![CDATA[Red Cedar Fruit Cage.]]>Sat, 29 Dec 2012 20:49:48 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/red-cedar-fruit-cageBelow are a few progressive photos of a Red Cedar fruit cage that Ben built over the last couple of months. It looks, and smells, great! Next project is to make good the Victorian style Greenhouse. 
Click on the images to enlarge.
]]><![CDATA[Replacement Oak lintels and Oak doors.]]>Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:54:33 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/replacement-oak-lintels-and-oak-doorsBelow we have a step by step guide to how to replace an oak lintel and fit a new oak door.
To ensure the wall doesn't fall down, a hole is knocked through the stonework, so that the support of an acro prop can be inserted. After the stonework below the support is dismantled, the old lintel can be replaced and the stonework can then be re-built using hydraulic lime/sand mortar. The new doors shown in the photographs below were made and fitted by Andrew French Carpentry, based in North Devon http://www.af-carpentry.co.uk/ - really beautiful work, thanks Andy. 

Click on the first image to scroll through.
]]><![CDATA[Lee Bay in North Devon.]]>Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:32:58 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/lee-bay-in-north-devonWe have recently started a project in Lee Bay for Jamie Pearce at Devon Build (http://www.devonbuild.co.uk/) - a general builder who I can recommend. The cottage has been beautifully renovated using traditional materials- as you can see from the photo below.
]]><![CDATA[Recent Stonework photos of Crediton Project.]]>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:25:23 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/recent-stonework-photos-of-crediton-projectHere are our most recent photos of stonework using cut and walling stone from Capton Quarry, near Williton, Somerset. http://www.captonquarry.co.uk/
]]><![CDATA[Cob Wall Repairs at the Crediton Project.]]>Sat, 16 Jun 2012 08:44:04 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/cob-wall-repairs-at-the-crediton-projectBelow are some progressive photos of recent work done at our Crediton project. This involved stripping off all of the existing cement render. Repairs where then done to the wall using cob blocks. After the roof tiles where removed the first haired coat of lime mortar was layed on to 'even out' the wall. Two more haired coats were then layed on, with about a week of drying time between each. Last coat was unhaired to give a smooth finish.

The tiled roof coping is now almost finished and four coats of the lime wash paint will be added over the next couple of weeks. Thankfully we had a cool May and June which has been ideal for 'slow curing' the limework. Also it is essential to keep it all covered with hessian and dampened through the whole process to reduce the risk of cracking.
There is a wealth of information on Mike Wye's site, who supplied the materials. Click on the link - http://www.mikewye.co.uk/
]]><![CDATA[Completed pitched terrace wall on Exmoor.]]>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:43:45 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/completed-pitched-terrace-wall-on-exmoorSo here is the finished 1st terrace wall and steps on a project on Exmoor. Ben Davies has been working with me for a few months now and is very proud of his steps. Back to Crediton until the Chelsea build starts.
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Bens steps
]]><![CDATA[Exmoor drystone walling.]]>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:22:05 GMThttps://www.ruralstonework.co.uk/blog/exmoor-drystone-wallingHere is a couple of days work of a new project on Exmoor. Who needs mobile phone coverage, shops etc! This is the start of a pitch dry-stone wall, using stone from on site.
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Exmoor terrace wall.
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