Cumbrian stone producers Burlington have bought a new automatic bagging machine for packaging the natural stone mulch they introduced 18 months ago as part of their landscaping range.

The landscaping sector has proved an enthusiastic consumer of the mulch that has provided Burlington with a way of turning what would otherwise be waste into a saleable product.

Demand for it has been boosted by its use on TV gardening programmes such as Ground Force. As well as looking good, it reduces weed growth and helps soil retain its moisture content.

Mike Dickinson, Burlington\'s quarries & environment director, says: "We are currently using a fifth to a quarter of extracted material that would become waste and recycling it in the form of natural stone mulch. This is a practical, effective and environmentally friendly way of using what was unusable material."

The new TSR18 bagging plant supplied by Brian Pike Packaging of Salisbury is capable of filling one tonne or 25kg bags - and it can fill three 25kg bags in a minute - because Burlington are actively targeting both the commercial and the domestic landscape markets.

Initially, Burlington\'s Elterwater Green stone mulch will be bagged, but the company\'s Blue/Grey stone will also be available soon.

For more details about Burlington\'s stone products: