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Top 10 ways to make the most of your small garden
Thursday, 11 August 2022 13:30:32 Europe/London
1) Wall-mounted planters or pots
Wall-mounted planters or pots vertical climbing plants are a great way to make sure you can have more plants in less space. This is perfect for an alternative herb garden.
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2) Use a retaining wall to create two levels.
A retaining wall is a great way to create levels and zones within your garden, our Small Walling Stone is a great way to do this. Shop here.
3) Wildflowers to keep your garden bright
Plants liven up any space but if you don’t want too much maintenance a wildflower patch can be an amazing option.
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4) Pave diagonally
This is a common technique used by landscape designers in order to make paths look longer than they are. Find our collection of paving stones here.
5) Create zones or "mini gardens"
When you have a little journey to go on to get to the ‘seating area’ in your garden it can trick you into feeling like there is more space. Seating areas and rockeries are perfect for this. View garden hedging stone here.
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6) Use Outdoor mirrors
Adding mirrors to any space will instantly make it look bigger. Hang them on your wall or fence and it will make the garden seem so much longer!
7) Don't be afraid to landscape.
Using different textures in a small garden might seem scary but bold choices often pay off. View our granite boulders for an amazing feature here.
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8) Focus of symmetry - granite gateposts
Bends aren't always the best place to go in small gardens, opt for clean lines and symmetry instead. Granite gateposts at the entrance are a good way to start this off. Shop here.
9) Create a pathway - Setts
Creating a pathway through any size space leads the eye in a specific direction and uses forced perspective to create the optical illusion of elongated space. View our granite setts here.
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10) Go crazy
Be adventurous with a sculpture or different choice of paving. Our Crazy Paving is perfect for a small patio area in a traditional-style garden.Shop here.
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Thursday, 11 August 2022 13:24:45 Europe/London
Stone Lane Exhibition Sponsorship
5 ways to save money on landscaping
The Chelsea Flower Show
7 Reasons To Choose Porcelain Paving
Really crazy paving
The therapy of drystone walling
Stone Lane Gardens
Monday, 18 July 2022 08:59:16 Europe/London
Stone Lane Gardens
We are happy to announce that Sir Tim Smit of The Eden Project has now cut the ribbon at Stone Lane Gardens Annual Ashburner Prize exhibition. The exhibition will be open to visitors until October 31st. This year we were the headline sponsors for the exhibition. As well as donating the prize money we also provided a Cornish Granite boulder that was expertly transformed by Sculptor Mike Blow. This piece is inspired by the form of mycelium hyphae and shows a myriad of connections it creates throughout it's lifecycle. It aims to show that we are all part of nature, and in doing so honours the use of amazing Cornish Granite.
Stone Lane Gardens is an RHS Partner Garden that holds a unique National Collection of Birch and Alder trees from around the world. The Gardens have long had a connection with art and have a semi-permanent collection of sculptures to enjoy within its grounds by renowned artists including Peter Randall-Page RA. When Lantoom's director Richard Crocker visited Stone Lane Gardens to meet with the exhibition coordinator Nick Parker he knew he wanted to help make this amazing exhibition happen. This year it's focus was on giving a platform to emerging artists with a connection to The South West.
The Ashburner Prize is named after the Garden’s founders, June and Kenneth Ashburner. The theme of the 2022 exhibition is Connectivity. There are many interesting exhibits in the Gardens this year, all exhibited alongside amazing plants and trees, creating an immersive exhibition. Most of these will be available to buy including the Winning piece ‘Stone Totum’ by Deborah Harrison. Deborah's sculpture aims to celebrate different quarries, and their respective stones, around The South West. It features three pieces of Caradon Granite, mostly in it's natural, unworked form. If you have an enquiry about working with Lantoom to create or commission sculpture please email us at sales@lantoom.co.uk
Chelsea Flower Show
Tuesday, 24 May 2022 17:02:59 Europe/London
Chelsea Flower Show
It has now been a month since we had the privilege to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with Mallorca Garden Design and we are enjoying reflecting on our time there. We love being asked to do bespoke jobs because it means we can work closely with the client to create something amazing. For this job we used our Cornish Granite from our Caradon Quarry. When Tanya from Mallorca Garden design contacted us we were keen to take on the unlikely collaboration and use it as an opportunity to champion Cornish Granite.
It took a lot of planning, skill and imagination but the result was an amazing entry that features two Cornish granite sculptures as the centre piece. First we selected appropriate boulders and cut them to size on our Granite Wire saw. We then worked with our Stonemason Darren in order to use traditional methods to achieve the finished result. When completing work for an exhibition run by The RHS we learned that dimensions and finishes must be very specific. This involved a lot of FaceTime calls and drawings sent back and forth with Tanya in order to get the product absolutely perfect
In the end we had created a rustic granite bowl as a feature piece and a granite pedestal that was to become the centre foot of the gardens bench. Our Caradon granite was the ultimate luxury product to use in a garden design like this and the reaction over the weekend was amazing. Lots of people enjoyed the relaxed and Mediterranean feel to the design, it even won a silver medal within its category and was visited by the likes of Monty Don! If you would like a bespoke or commissioned price made for you from Cornish granite using a mix of high level technology and traditional stonemasonry then please do not hesitate to get in contact with our team here.
7 Reasons To Choose Porcelain Paving
Thursday, 7 April 2022 09:21:13 Europe/London
7 Reasons To Choose Porcelain Paving
1. Looks smooth but is not slippery. Porcelain paving is manufactured in order to provide a unique non-slip surface. Even after a frosty night or spout of heavy rain, porcelain remains relatively safe, therefore reducing the risk of falls.
2. Strong and hard-wearing. Made using a process that produces a highly durable product that can withstand extreme weather and lots of footfall. Porcelain is also resistant to fading.
3. Very low maintenance. Porcelain absorbs very little water and is naturally nonporous. Not only does this make the slabs very easy to clean but it also means that stains don’t stick! No Sealants are required for this paving and it is extremely easy to clean. All you will need to get your patio summer-ready is some soapy water and a sponge, no complicated regime!
4. Contemporary feel. The tiles provide a modern look that is compatible with minimalistic jointing.
5. Extensive and unique ranges. As porcelain is a manufactured product it is available in an almost endless range of styles, so once you have decided this is the material for you it is very unlikely you won’t be able to find something you like.
6. Fireproof. Because porcelain is manufactured at very high heat it is extremely resistant to fire and heat. They do not melt or burn. Perfect for your outdoor firepit!
7. Resistant to moss and mould. This is also due to how dense and non-porous the material is, meaning that microspores find it difficult to penetrate porcelain’s surface. This is why it is so easy to maintain!
Stone Lane Exhibition Sponsorship
Friday, 7 January 2022 11:42:25 Europe/London
An Exciting Partnership...
We are very happy to announce that this year Lantoom Quarry is the primary sponsor of the Ashburner Prize! This is an exhibition hosted at Stone Lane Sculptor Gardens and we are extremely proud to be a part of it. Stone Lane Gardens is a RHS partner and the annual exhibition has been running since 1992. The showcase is an amazing opportunity for West Country artists to display work alongside the extensive curation of Birch and Alder trees in the gardens. A walk around Stone Lane on a summer's day really is the perfect day out for the whole family!
This year the Exhibition's theme is ‘Connectivity’. Aside from connectivity being something we are all enjoying rediscovering after two years of intermittent lockdowns, the buzzword encompasses a whole world of artistic opportunity. Stone Lane Gardens describes the theme as something to be interpreted; ‘in terms of materials, form, growth and especially potential energy. It can apply to the body (internal to external); to place; to others; or, paradoxically, between materiality and the void’. Applications will be accepted from emerging artists/sculptors that are based within or have a connection to the South West.
If you do wish to enter for a chance to be featured in this paid exhibition, you can do so here. Make sure to keep an eye on Lantoom’s blog and socials in order to spot any updates in regards to the exhibition… there may even be another exciting announcement coming soon!
Really Crazy paving
Thursday, 16 December 2021 13:39:26 Europe/London
Really Crazy Paving
Do you remember when we told you we had an exciting collaboration coming up? Well, it is all finished and installed. Happily, we can now say that the pieces we have made for The Eden Project are complete. We are so proud to have worked with Eden, a legendary Cornish landmark that promotes, sustainability, environmental education, and creativity.
A little while ago the Eden Project contacted us with a commission that was a little different. Although the granite for this job was not from our quarry we were tasked with using our wire saw to cut it to the perfect size and create some really crazy paving!
This wire saw is an amazing machine that allows for precise cuts to be made from a granite boulder in order to create amazing bespoke pieces. This makes it the perfect tool for things like Cornish Granite Lintels and Quoins but also for bespoke jobs that use granite as a form of art. Here at Lantoom, we are passionate about not only supporting local businesses but also producing unique products with Cornish stone that tell a story.
The Eden team decided to lay their paving into a resin-bound pathway, acting as stepping stones, and we love the final result! This part of their biome is a South African exhibit.
So why would a company like Eden choose natural stone supplied and cut by Cornish production chains? Granite is not only synonymous with our fantastic county but it is also hard-wearing and therefore a sustainable product. It lasts for decades and is an amazing material to create garden features with. If you would like to contact us in order to commission yourself some ‘really crazy paving’ or any other bespoke project then please ring the office on 01579308234 to talk to one of our sales team and get the process started.
5 ways to save money on your landscaping project
Friday, 26 March 2021 13:49:33 Europe/London
1) Do it yourself
Labour can be expensive. However sometimes it is worth asking yourself – am I capable of doing a good job of this by myself? We live in a world where there are thousands of Youtube videos on how to do pretty much anything and everything. We also have a selection of guides on our website to aid you in various landscaping scenarios. So perhaps before hiring someone, check out a few videos or guides, you may be surprised just how simple the task might be.
2) Lend a helping hand
Maybe you have decided that perhaps doing the whole project yourself is a little above your capabilities or you do not have the time or confidence to commit to the undertaking. Though you may not be able to do the whole job yourself, sometimes you may be able to help the labourer. For some jobs having an extra pair of hands to mix cement or push the wheel barrow can save hours on the job and therefore save you some money.
3) Carefully choose the materials to fit with your budget
With paving projects for instance, there are many choices of materials, some more costly then others. So it is important to take your time when choosing materials, you will have to weigh up the style you are after with your budget. Feel free to give us a shout on 01579 308234 our friendly staff can talk you through some of the paving options.
4) Careful planning.
Careful planning can save you money in the long run. Not only will having a good plan help the labourer more accurately estimate how long it will take him or her and avoid any nasty surprises it can also prevent mistakes. Even drawing up contingency plans can be useful in case of the unexpected.
5) Pick your labourer wisely
When on a tight budget it can be tempting to go with the cheapest quote with no questions asked. But do your research carefully, just like any other profession there are the “cowboys” and though they may be cheap, incorrectly executing a landscaping task- like paving laying for instance; can be a costly task to set right.
The ecological benefits of building drystone walls.
Wednesday, 25 November 2020 15:58:20 Europe/London
Beneficial
There are many reasons why someone might consider building a drystone wall, these include: setting a boundary around a field, incasing a flower bed or tiering a garden. But one benefit that we often overlook is the ecological impact of building one.
Plant Life
There are many plants which love nothing more then to live out of the gaps of soil between a drystone wall, such as: lavender, primrose, snapdragon and much more, plants with small roots, like the ones listed, are perfect for drystone wall constructions, not only will they have an excellent environment to grow, but they will also add colour to your drystone wall construction and of course combined, these plants help to purify our air.
Insect Life
Once your wall is built it will not take long for the cast of A Bug’s Life to move in. Ants, woodlice, millipedes, spiders and caterpillars will all find there place in your wall. In the end, every foot of your wall will contain at least one species of insect these bugs have various roles including feeding larger critters.
Larger critters
Unfortunately for the bugs, they will attract birds, frogs and lizards which not only use the drystone wall as shelter but also use it as a restocking buffet and help to control the numbers of insects. Even larger animals can benefit from the wall including large mammals which may use the wall as shade or shelter from winds or rain. All in all when you decide to build a drystone wall, you are not just benefiting your garden you are creating a mini eco system.
The world's biggest drystone walling project
Friday, 21 February 2020 10:59:22 Europe/London
The idea
Since 2014 Mark Ellis, a drystone waller, has been creating what will be the largest dry stone wall construction in the world; a dry stone maze in Dalby Forest, Scarborough. Once complete the project will consist of over 4000 tonnes of walling stone.
A nice touch
What’s more, members of the public have been welcomed in to leave there mark on the record breaking maze. A workshop has been running allowing members of the public to carve something in stone, this can be anything from a birth date, a wedding anniversary to a stone in memory of someone special. These stones will be incorporated into the final project.
Get involved
The project is still far from completion, meaning we might have to wait about 3-5 years before we are able to see the impressive project completed. It is sure to look A-maze-ing! For more information or if you are interested in carving your own stone Click here.
