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Cotswold buff gravel

zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
edited March 2023 in Tools and techniques
I’m am on the hunt for a gravel for the paths between my raised beds, I am incredibly fussy 😆 I just want something pretty neutral, no bright colours, not too warm or too grey, no slate!

I was wondering if anyone had any of these gravels in their garden and wouldn’t mind sharing some photos so I can see how they look in person:
- cotswold buff (or wickes)
- devon grey
- honey stone
(all from homebase)
- grey limestone (from b&q or wickes)

if anyone has a nice looking 10mm pea gravel I’d also like pictures of those!!

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @ Zugenie, I think I've got Cotswold buff down in our parking area so will try to remember to take a pic for you tomorrow. It's the same shade as our Bath stone house and garage. It's fairly bright when new but tones down quickly with age.

    Most outlets usually have samples on show for you to look at.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • WatsoniaWatsonia Posts: 134
    This is Cotswold buff, 20mm gravel. Apologies for the doggie, but I thought it gives you a better close up of the gravel. It seems to stay better in place compared to round pea gravel. 

  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    @Watsonia thank you, never apologise for the doggy!

    @Lizzie27 thank you, I find the GCs do but the diy stores don’t, and it’s hard to tell looking at a bag of dirty gravel!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2023
    Do you have a proper builders' merchant nearby @zugenie?
    The DIY outlets are usually very expensive for things like gravel ,compared to the b's merchants.
    I have a golden gravel, but I originally had the Cotswold one and it broke down too much. I can't remember exactly the one I have, but I'll take a look. It's a 20mm size and I used it for the paths, and for the now 'gravel garden' in the back.
     
    This is the one
    https://www.jwgrant.co.uk/hanson-solent-gold-decorative-aggregate-20mm-bulk-baghsg02

    I've also had it from another outlet which just has it listed as golden gravel  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    @Fairygirl we do but their selection is a bit limited, I want to see if I can see their pea shingle in person because if I can that will be very cheap and cheerful :) it looks good in the pictures but we all know that’s not always accurate!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - that's true @zugenie!
    We're quite lucky here as all the builders' merchants are pretty reliable. I've used the golden gravel before, but I mad a mistake with the Cotswold one. I had to get more later on anyway, once my extension was built, so it wasn't a problem. Your honey stone one is probably the most similar to the one I have- it tends to get called different things depending on the seller. 
    I only buy the bog standard pea gravel if I use it, usually for top dressing pots, but I bought a bag in one of the cheapo shops [B&M or Home Bargains] which I used for some of the pond edging/beach. I don't think I have a photo though - it was a golden one, to blend in with the rest.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Sorry @zugenie, I keep forgetting to take my phone with me down to our parking area, but the gravel's the same colour as Watsonia's.

    Edited to say oops, I lied! Just realized I photographed my cherry tree this afternoon, it's on the Forkers thread, you can just see the parking area underneath.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    We've got Cerney stone (cotswolds), I don't know if it's called anything different anywhere. It's got tons of fossils in. It's pretty standard neutral colours.
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    Thank you @Lizzie27 what a beautiful cherry tree! I think the cotswold buff is the winner, £150 for a bulk bag which is about twice as much as I need but it’s only £50 more expensive than buying the amount I need in bags, and I can use the remainder to replace the gravel I dislike at the front :) This was the pea shingle, just a bit too brown/golden for me:


  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks @zugenie, I see what you mean about the pea gravel being 'too brown'. 
    I had the same problem a year or so ago, then decided the Cotswold buff was better so overlaid it.

    You could always use some of the remainder as a surface mulch for your pots.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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