September Insight: Built for Whatever Autumn Brings:

September always feels like a bit of a turning point at the quarries. Summer feels like a distant memory, autumnal mornings are becoming fresher, days are shorter and before we know it, the quarries will be swapping the dust-filled atmosphere for sludgy muddy puddles.

Fortunately, slate is extremely good at dealing with whatever the British weather decides to throw us.

More Than Just a Pretty Stone

When people think of slate, roofing or traditional Cornish walls initially comes to mind, but the scope for quarried slate is endless.

Across construction and ground-working, slate aggregates provide a strong, dependable base for access tracks, yards, driveways and building projects. Products such as our 803 sub-base, screened hardcore, crusher dust, drainage stone and chippings all have their place, whether you're preparing ground for something new or simply trying to stop a well-used track disappearing into a quagmire.

For farms and rural properties, autumn is the time to start thinking about gateways, tracks, drainage areas and other high-traffic spots before the inevitable downpours begin.

In other words, a little preparation now can save a lot of squelching later.

From Groundworks to Garden Walls

Not everything leaving the quarry is destined to be driven over.

Our natural slate is also used by landscapers, builders and stonemasons for everything from garden walls and boundaries to facing stone, paving and feature pieces.

Every piece carries its own character, with the blues, greys and warmer rustic tones - particularly noticeable in the damper conditions.

It is one of those materials that can feel equally at home on a working farm, a new-build property or tucked into a beautifully landscaped garden. Whether that be in the deepest darkest depths of the country, or slap bang in a suburban city centre, slate holds its own wherever you choose to use it.

Ready for the Months Ahead

If you're building, landscaping, farming, laying a track, improving drainage or creating something from natural slate, there is probably something sitting in one of our quarry piles with your project's name on it.

And unlike the summer sunshine, we've no plans to disappear for the winter.