Welcome to Long Rake Spar
Established in 1867, Long Rake Spar is a family-run business with over 150 years’ of expertise in sourcing and producing decorative aggregates. Renowned for our extensive range, we offer the largest selection of decorative aggregates in the UK.
At the heart of our business is an unwavering commitment to quality and exceptional service. Every product we supply is rigorously selected and processed to ensure it meets the highest standards, and we pride ourselves on providing personalised support to meet the unique needs of our customers. This dedication has made us a trusted partner for builders’ merchants,
Service
At Long Rake Spar, we are committed to delivering not only quality products but also exceptional service. With strategically positioned dock and production facilities, we streamline logistics to reduce lorry movements across the UK road network, minimising carbon emissions. Our products are available nationwide through our extensive network of merchant partners. To help you make the perfect choice, our
landscapers and contractors.
As pioneers in the industry, we continue to stay ahead of trends, ensuring our aggregates remain both practical and aesthetically inspiring. At Long Rake Spar, we don’t just supply products; we provide solutions that combine beauty, functionality and reliability to enhance outdoor spaces across the UK.
brochure and website showcase the full range of decorative aggregates we offer, featuring a wide variety of materials, colours, and sizes. Many of our stockists also have display areas where you can view samples firsthand, ensuring you select the perfect product for your project.
We are delighted to announce that we have committed to achieving Planet Mark Business Certification.
Through these initiatives, we’re not just shaping outdoor spaces—we’re building a sustainable future.
Quality
Quality is the foundation of everything we do. We proudly hold the BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems accreditation, reflecting our unwavering commitment to continuous improvement in product quality, processes, and customer service.
We work closely with a trusted network of suppliers who share our ethos and dedication to excellence, ensuring every product we deliver meets the highest standards.
From sourcing to delivery, we strive to provide our customers with reliable, premium-quality aggregates that consistently exceed expectations.
Welcome to Long Rake Spar
NEW FOR 2025
Premium Collection
Azzuro Blue
Size: 8-12mm
Colour: Blue/Grey
Azzuro Blue is a stunning blue/grey, premium Italian marble. The subtle mix of grey shades combine to create arguably the most beautiful aggregate available.
Pebbles & Cobbles
Mediterranean Pebbles
Size: 20-30mm
Colour: Mixed
Mediterranean Pebbles are a mix of rounded pebbles which are predominately 20-30mm in size. These attractive stones are an eyecatching addition to any landscaping project.
They are suitable for decorative rockeries, garden borders, raised beds and ornamental water features.
Premium Collection
Azzuro Blue is perfect for footpaths, flower beds and borders, providing excellent contrast against greenery and blooms.
Premium Collection
Artico White
Size: 8-10mm
Colour: White
Artico White is a stunning creamy white, premium Italian marble. Artico White has a lovely rounded finish and looks gorgeous in decorative borders, giving a sleek, polished look.
Artico White is perfect for footpaths, flower beds and borders and can be used as a pot topper.
Spanish
Gold
Size: 12-20mm
Colour: White with Grey and Bronze
Spanish Gold is predominantly a white angular marble, with grey and bronze coloured stones throughout. This high-quality product maintains its strong look both wet and dry.
Perfect for a variety of uses, such as driveways, footpaths, beds and borders, Spanish gold adds a touch of class to landscape projects.
Ancillary Range
Grano Dust
Size: 0-4mm
Colour: Grey
Achieve the perfect foundation for your landscaping projects with Grano Dust. This finely crushed aggregate is a must-have for creating solid, level bases for paving, patios, and artificial grass, offering both practicality and performance.
Grano Dust has a fine gritty texture and is designed to provide excellent compaction, making it ideal for use in driveways, garden paths, and sub-bases.
Ancillary Range
Sports Sand
Size: 0.3-1mm
Colour: Gold
Sports Sand is a washed and graded premium quality dry sand for use with artificial grass and sports surfacing.
Especially chosen for its excellent natural drainage properties, this non-compacting sand is often used to improve football/rugby pitches, domestic lawns and amenity turf.
Ancillary Range
Schist Tumbled Edging
Size: 400mm (L) x 60mm (W) x 80mm (D)
Approx
Colour: Charcoal Grey
Schist Tumbled Edging perfectly combines functionality with rustic charm. Crafted from premium-quality schist stone, these tumbled edges are beautifully smooth, offering a timeless organic appearance that blends effortlessly with a variety of garden styles.
Whether you’re outlining flower beds, defining pathways, or creating raised borders, Schist Tumbled Edging delivers durability and aesthetic appeal in equal measure.
PREMIUM COLLECTION
The Premium Collection brings together our leading landscaping materials. This is a range of high-quality gravels and chippings, and pebbles and cobbles that add a distinctive finish to any garden.
Flamingo Chippings
Zebra Pebbles
ZEB20-40IBC Bulk Bag 1
ZEB20-40L Loose On Request
GRAVEL & CHIPPINGS
Gravel & Chippings
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10/70B BLA14/70B BLA20/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10IBC BLA14IBC BLA20IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
BLA10L BLA14L BLA20L Loose On Request
COT10-20/70B Poly Bag 70
COT10-20IBC Bulk Bag 1 COT10-20L Loose On Request
Gravel & Chippings
Gravel & Chippings
Green Granite
Codes Pack Type No Per Pack
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
COR10/70B COR14/70B COR20/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
COR10IBC COR14IBC COR20IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
COR10L COR14L COR20L Loose On Request
GRN14/70B GRN20/70B Poly Bag 70
GRN14IBC GRN20IBC Bulk Bag 1
GRN14L GRN20L Loose On Request
Gravel & Chippings
Gravel & Chippings
Moonstone
Gravel & Chippings
Gravel & Chippings
Pea Gravel
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
PEA10/70B PEA14/70B PEA20/70B Poly Bag 70
PEA10IBC PEA14IBC PEA20IBC Bulk Bag 1
PEA10L PEA14L PEA20L Loose On Request
Gravel & Chippings |
MUL8-11/70B
MUL8-11IBC
MUL8-11L
Gravel & Chippings
Gravel & Chippings
BLA10/70B
BLA10IBC
BLA10L
DOL8-11/70B
DOL8-11IBC
DOL8-11L
Gravel & Chippings
Staffordshire Pink
White
Limestone
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
STA14/70B STA20/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
STA14IBC STA20IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
STA14L STA20L Loose On Request
LIM10/70B LIM14/70B LIM20/70B Poly Bag 70
LIM10IBC LIM14IBC LIM20IBC Bulk Bag 1
LIM10L LIM14L LIM20L Loose On Request
Gravel & Chippings
Gravel & Chippings
BLA10/70B
YOR20/70B
YOR20IBC
YOR20L
SLATE RANGE
Long Rake Spar sources its Slate from the UK’s premium quarries. With a selection of colours and sizes to choose from, these versatile and fish-friendly products look great when used in water features and ponds.
Blue Slate
Codes Pack Type No Per Pack
Type No. Per Pack 20mm 40mm
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
SLAB20/70B SLAB40/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
SLAB20IBC SLAB40IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
SLAB20L SLAB40L Loose On Request
SLAC20/70B SLAC40/70B Poly Bag 70
SLAC20IBC SLAC40IBC Bulk Bag 1
SLAC20L SLAC40L Loose On Request
Green Slate
Type No. Per Pack 20mm 40mm
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
SLAG20/70B SLAG40/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
SLAG20IBC SLAG40IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
SLAG20L SLAG40L Loose On Request
SLAP20/70B SLAP40/70B Poly Bag 70
SLAP20IBC SLAP40IBC Bulk Bag 1
SLAP20L SLAP40L Loose On Request
Plum Slate
Long Rake Spar’s Pebbles and Cobbles offer is the largest on the market, with size options to both accessorise gravels and to be the primary decorative material.
Dove Grey Pebbles
Ebony Cobbles
Pebbles & Cobbles
Ebony Pebbles
Pebbles & Cobbles
Pebbles & Cobbles
Oyster Pebbles
OYS20/70B OYS40/70B Poly Bag
OYS20IBC OYS40IBC Bulk Bag 1
OYS20L OYS40L Loose On Request
SCO50-75/70B
SCO50-75IBC
SCO50-75L
Cobbles
Tweed
SCO14-20/70B SCO20-30/70B SCO30-50/70B Poly Bag 70
SCO14-20IBC SCO20-30IBC SCO30-50IBC Bulk Bag 1
SCO14-20L SCO20-30L SCO30-50L Loose On Request
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1 BLA10L Loose On Request
Pebbles & Cobbles
Codes Pack Type No. Per Pack
TWE20-40/70B Poly Bag 70
TWE20-40IBC Bulk Bag 1
TWE20-40L Loose On Request
Pebbles & Cobbles
Angel Whirlpool Boulders
Cambrian Boulders
Duck Egg Boulders
Green Granite Rockery
Plum Slate Rockery
Red Laguna Boulders
Rustic Slate Rockery
Tumbled Sandstone
Rockery & Boulders
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
Slate Path
Slate Path is chemically resistant and is a beautiful natural plum colour that deepens when wet. The product is designed for a range of applications including footpaths and cycleways. The fine grading of the material ensures a compact, stable surface for foot traffic, which is easy to maintain. The finished surface is more stable than single-sized gravels.
BLA10/70B Poly Bag 70
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
GOL0-10IBC Bulk Bag 1
GOL0-10L Loose On Request
BLA10L Loose On Request N/A N/A
BLA10IBC Bulk Bag 1
SLAP5-14IBC Bulk Bag 1
BLA10L Loose On Request
SLAP5-14L Loose On Request
Leisure Sand
Leisure Sand is used for a variety of applications such as golf bunkers, long jump pits, artificial beaches, beach volleyball courts and sand sculptures.
Play Pit Sand is a pale golden sand, that is perfect for play pits and sand tables. Approved to BS EN1177 and BS EN71-3 quality standards. A fish-friendly product.
Kiln Dried Sand
Kiln Dried Sand is ideal for jointing block paving or patio kits. Colour can vary depending on the source. Compliant with BS7533 grading requirements.
This finely crushed aggregate is a must-have for creating solid, level bases for paving, patios, and artificial grass, offering both practicality and performance. Grano Dust
Sports Sand
White Rock Salt
12kg covers 1m2 of wall area.
Ice Blue® is a grey coloured dashing, primarily used for exterior wall finishes. Also great for garden decorative use, to cover borders and planters. This product is supplied washed. 12kg covers 1m2 of wall area.
Schist Tumbled
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of our business. We are dedicated to protecting the environment and reducing our carbon footprint as we work toward becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2030.
Our efforts include:
• Eco-Friendly Packaging: All our packaging contains 30% post-consumer waste and is fully recyclable.
• Solar-Powered Operations: We’ve installed solar panels at our Rye Harbour production facilities, reducing our reliance on nonrenewable energy.
• Green Transportation: We’re transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles and have installed charging points at all our sites, significantly cutting CO2 emissions.
• Water Recycling: We recycle water used for washing our premium products, minimising water usage in our production processes.
• Energy Efficiency: All our sites use low-voltage LED lighting, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Our Rye Harbour site now has a full solar array generating enough electricity to fully power this site.
• Ethical Sourcing: Our environmental policy ensures we only supply materials from sustainable deposits that adhere to strict legislative and ecological standards.
• Sustainable Displays & Advertising: All external advertising is printed on 100% recyclable materials, and our display timber is sourced from FSC-certified suppliers.
Beyond environmental efforts, we are proud to contribute to the social and economic well-being of our local communities by supporting projects and charities that make a lasting impact.
Quantifying your product
The key to buying the correct quantities is understanding the depth of material required.
This will depend on the chosen application and the material size.
The Suitable Depths table (below) is a simple guide to help. Remember, too little material can leave weed membranes visible, too much can result in pooling/sinking underfoot and displacement of material, especially with rounded aggregates.
Suitable Depths Table
Too much aggregate Too little aggregate
So now you have the required depth, how do you know what to purchase?
The Weight & Bags table (below) turns your depth into an approximate material weight, the number of poly bags and the number of bulk bags required to cover an area of 10sq.m. These numbers can be ratioed according to the area of your site.
Weight & Bags Table
Quantifying your product
If you’re still unsure, please speak to your stockist or use the simple calculator tool at: longrakespar.co.uk.
Our brochure and website showcase the full range of decorative aggregates we offer, providing inspiration for all garden styles. Many of our stockists also feature displays, allowing you to see materials and sizes firsthand before making your final choice.
With Long Rake Spar, creating the garden of your dreams has never been easier.
Application Considerations
Selecting the right aggregate for its intended use is key to achieving both practicality and aesthetic appeal.
Here’s our guide to choosing the perfect product for common garden applications:
Driveways
For durability and stability, we recommend 14-20mm angular chippings. These interlock more effectively than rounded stones, providing a firmer surface that is less prone to movement underfoot or vehicle use.
Pathways
Angular gravels in the 10-20mm range work well for pathways, offering stability and a comfortable walking surface.
For sloped paths with a gradient greater than 1:20, consider using stabilising grids to prevent material movement.
Specialist pathway materials like Goldpath provide a compacted, even finish and are also ideal for well-trodden areas.
Water Features and Ponds
Many of our aggregates become even more striking when wet, making them a fantastic choice for water features and ponds. For ponds with fish, avoid using marble, dolomite, or limestone, as these can alter water pH levels.
To protect pond liners, we recommend using smooth, rounded materials like pebbles or cobbles to prevent punctures.
Raised Beds and Borders
Decorative aggregates are a versatile option for raised beds and borders. Combining chippings, pebbles, cobbles, and boulders can create visual interest and texture. To brighten shaded areas, consider using lighter-coloured aggregates to reflect light and lift the space.
By carefully considering the application and choosing the appropriate aggregate, you can ensure your garden is both functional and visually stunning.
Icons Guide
This brochure contains icons to help you select the right product for your project.
Note: Be aware that decorative aggregates are a natural product and variations in size and colour may occur due to geological and processing variables.
Washed and Unwashed
Many of our premium aggregates are meticulously washed to remove fine particles and silt, resulting in a cleaner, more vibrant finish that meets the high expectations of discerning customers. Washed aggregates provide an immediate polished appearance, perfect for projects where aesthetics are a priority.
For those opting for unwashed products, a simple rinse with a hosepipe or watering can after laying can achieve a similar effect.
As the water flows through the aggregate, the fine particles naturally settle underneath the surface, leaving a clean and uniform top layer.
Whether you choose washed or unwashed products, both options offer excellent functionality and appearance, depending on your project needs.
Washed Suitable for Driveways
Our Sites
We operate a network of strategically located production and dockside facilities, supported by our Head Office in Youlgrave, Derbyshire. This network allows us to maintain extensive production capacity, secure stockholding and achieve key logistical advantages to serve our customers effectively.
Youlgrave, Derbyshire
Youlgrave is the original home of Long Rake Spar dating back to 1867 and is now the site of a major production site and separately, in the heart of the village, the company head office.
• Facilities: A 16-acre freehold site with 3 bulk bag and 6 pre-packed production lines.
• Production Capacity: Produces 200,000 tonnes of finished stock annually, supported by 2 washing plants and a tumbler for superior product quality.
Rye Harbour, East Sussex
• Dockside Storage: 52 storage bays capable of holding over 30,000 tonnes of stock.
• Production Capabilities: Our largest site at 24 acres, equipped with advanced washing facilities and 4 fully robotic packing lines, ensuring efficient and high-volume output. This site produces 150,000 tonnes of finished stock annually and is the flagship site for renewable energy, with the newly installed solar array powering the entire site.
Youlgrave
Garston Docks
Our Sites
Garston Docks, Liverpool
• Dockside Storage: 21 storage bays capable of holding over 50,000 tonnes of stock.
• Production Capabilities: Our newest site was acquired in 2020, with state-of-the-art washing plant, and 4 fully robotic packing lines. This 15-acre site produces over 150,000 tonnes of finished stock annually.
Rosyth Docks, Scotland
• Storage Capacity: 6 storage bays capable of holding over 20,000 tonnes of stock.
Gunness Wharf, Northeast England
• Storage Capacity: 10 storage bays holding over 25,000 tonnes of stock, ensuring swift distribution across the UK.
Prees, Shropshire
• Production Capabilities: This 6-acre site features 3 pre-packed and 2 bulk bag production lines, producing an impressive 100,000 tonnes of finished stock annually.
Moel Tryfan Quarry, North Wales
• Location: Set on the slopes of a picturesque mountain range in northern Gwynedd, at approx. 340m above sea level.
• Specialty Products: This 37-acre quarry is in full production of 20mm and 40mm Plum Slate chippings and rockery stone, securing supply of these products for the next 25 years.
Rosyth Docks
Gunness Wharf
Prees
Youlgrave Moel
Tryfan Quarry
Garston Docks
Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd
Youlgrave, Near Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1LW
01629 636210
longrakespar.co.uk sales@longrakespar.co.uk
“There
is no substitute for quality and service”
Trevor Broadhurst, Owner/ Managing Director
Scan me for digital brochures