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Horticultural Grit

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Markfernleysmith (U3801416) on Tuesday, 18th April 2006

  While I was very pleased to see the team deciding to conserve water I was concerned about the amount of horticultural grit that was used on last weeks program.
  
  Aggregates like grit and gravel are amongst the most destructive of materials that can be used in a garden (second only to concrete perhaps!). Not only are aggregates obtained from open cast mines (which are bad enough) but much of it is dredged from the sea and then the spoil dumped back. As these areas have to be shallow many are key breeding ground for fish (the few we have left!) - its so bad that the majority of European countries ban dredging in their waters - leaving the situation where the UK does it for them.
  
  Please, please GW think about where you get materials from and what they might be doing to the environment. Its good to have a pleasant garden but not at the expense of somewhere else.
  
  Best wishes, Mark Smith

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Skarloey (U2326588) on Tuesday, 18th April 2006

  Hi Mark,
  Thanks for the info. I expect I'm not the only one who didn't know how grit was sourced.
  Do you know of any 'friendly' grit? If so, where would one buy it?

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ripleyfrog (U3450495) on Tuesday, 18th April 2006

  This is an interesting comment as here in South Derbyshire and also in Nottinghamshire, gravel extraction has created some wondeful sites for nature, some are now designated sites of special scientific interest. The disused pits are allowed to fill with water and, once naturalised, are home to hundreds of species of birds, fish, mammals and a wide range of flora. Two sides to every coin I suppose.
  
  Martin. While I was very pleased to see the team deciding to conserve water I was concerned about the amount of horticultural grit that was used on last weeks program.
  
  Aggregates like grit and gravel are amongst the most destructive of materials that can be used in a garden (second only to concrete perhaps!). Not only are aggregates obtained from open cast mines (which are bad enough) but much of it is dredged from the sea and then the spoil dumped back. As these areas have to be shallow many are key breeding ground for fish (the few we have left!) - its so bad that the majority of European countries ban dredging in their waters - leaving the situation where the UK does it for them.
  
  Please, please GW think about where you get materials from and what they might be doing to the environment. Its good to have a pleasant garden but not at the expense of somewhere else.
  
  Best wishes, Mark Smith 

  Link to this forum: Horticultural Grit

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by SarahBert (U3265289) on Tuesday, 18th April 2006

  National Watersport Centre at Holme Pierrepoint is old gravel pits too - so they do have some uses. Looking forward to the 'friendly grit' response, have never treally thought about it like that before. Have had close acquaintance with grit as some idiot - supposed horticultural expert employed by gullible mother, sprinkled builders sand on the bare patches of her lawn in the autumn. It's unbelievable. When I first saw it I thought he'd used rock salt. He said the worms would take it down - which they have, leaving the grit!

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