Hard landscaping materials supplier London Stone has opened its ninth showroom, in Bletchley, Milton Keynes. Its showrooms are open to both trade and public customers, and are open Monday to Saturday. 

Alongside displays of porcelain, natural stone, and clay paving, composite decking, cladding, pergolas and planters, complimentary samples, refreshments and customer Wi-Fi are available across all sites.

Craig Nester, director of Bedfordshire-based landscapers, Habitat Landscapes, said of the showroom: "It’s great to see this showroom in the area, we’ve been crying out for it! If we want to send clients to the showroom, we can stay on site, safe in the knowledge that the team will look after them."

Sales director, Stu Williams says, "We are thrilled to have opened such an inspiring showroom in the MK area. The new showroom is our most compact, but packs a lot into the 190m2 display area. We look forward to welcoming trade and retail clients from Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire.” 

Brachot has launched a new quartz slab material developed using patented Breton Technology. Known as Unistone UniQ, it features a high percentage of quartz without substitutes like feldspar or glass.

The company says that Unistone UniQ will eliminate health risks associated with respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS). Unistone UniQ utilises amorphous silica, a crystalline silica-free structure that can eliminate hazardous dust production during processing. It has been produced with Breton’s patented BioQuartz technology.

It is manufactured with recycled materials and a zero-waste approach to be more environmentally friendly and is said to be more scratch resistant than traditional quartz. The product can be worked with traditional tools and is NSF-certified for food preparation areas.

Founded in 1901, Brachot is a manufacturer and supplier of natural stone and blended materials, including ceramics, quartz composite, and terrazzo. The family-run business operates 20 company-owned quarries, seven production units, and fifteen distribution centres across Europe and Africa. 

National Highways is currently working on the A417 Missing Link scheme, creating 5.5km of new dual carriageway between Gloucester and Cirencester. As part of this project, the team are painstakingly building 7.5kms of dry stone wall along the route. This wall will be incorporated into the scheme to help the road blend into the landscape, protect sites of special scientific interest, such as where wildlife lives, and reinstate old walls that have fallen into disrepair. 

The majority of the dry stone wall will follow alongside the new A417, with other sections along parts of the B4070 and Barrow Wake car park.
A team of 12 masons who were taught how to construct Cotswold stone walls by experts at the Dry Stone Walling Association have been on site since early 2024. They expect to be finished in mid-2026. In the summer, the scheme is hoping to take on an apprentice so the skills can be passed on to the next generation.

Steve Foxley, project director for the A417 Missing Link, said: “Our work on this vital scheme goes beyond simply building a new road, but also helping to preserve and enhance the landscape.

“We’re delighted to be able to support such worthwhile projects which will help to support and reconnect the A417 with local heritage and the landscape whilst also helping to keep traditional skills alive. Our project team has already started working with dry stone wall specialists using traditional methods to build new sections of wall alongside the new road. Visitors can already see the fruits of their hard work – and it is hard work!”

Bernard McEnroe, managing director of Master Stone Masons UK, said: "We’re delighted to be involved in this incredible project, helping to preserve the timeless beauty and heritage of the Cotswolds. Dry stone walling is an age-old craft that not only defines the landscape but also embodies the skill, dedication, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. At Master Stone Masons, we take immense pride in ensuring that this tradition continues to thrive, maintaining the authenticity and character of these historic structures.

"A project of this significance demands the highest standards, and we are incredibly grateful for the invaluable guidance and expertise of the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA). Their dedication to excellence has been instrumental in ensuring that the quality of the work meets the rigorous standards expected of this traditional craft. Preserving heritage is at the heart of what we do, and we are proud to play our part in keeping the Cotswolds' iconic landscape intact for future generations."
 

Quartz surfaces manufacturer Vadara Quartz Surfaces has formed a distribution partnership with The Thomas Group and its brand, The Surface Collection as part of an international expansion.

Vadara has been established in the US for many years and will now capitalising on its innovative designs, streamlined operations, and keen insight into local customer preferences with further expansion plans.

“In the United States, Vadara has built a reputation for quality and innovation, and now is the ideal time to bring tailored solutions to diverse global markets, stated Erik Butler, chief operating officer at US Surfaces, Vadara’s parent company, “With a focus on meeting unique tastes, budgets, and lifestyles of our customers worldwide, Vadara is ready to expand its footprint and continue its growth internationally.”

The partnership between Vadara and The Thomas Group was born from a mutual goal of bringing premium handcrafted quartz products, curated color palettes, and a diverse range of pricing options to the UK. Vadara recognises that strong regional teams depend on the foundation of local leaders who understand their markets and excel at navigating diverse channels.  

“Vadara operates two state-of-the-art plants with 34 production lines to meet the growing global demand for our products effectively,” Andrew Evans, VP of global sales & marketing at LE Surfaces, Vadara’s manufacturing counterpart, added. “By producing our raw materials and maintaining the highest quality control standards, we ensure that we consistently deliver on the needs and expectations of our clients worldwide."

After studying the competitive landscape in the UK, Vadara is confident in its ability to provide a highly differentiated product to the market with its handcrafted designs that are virtually indistinguishable from natural stone, allowing consumers to afford the look of marble and quartzite at a lower price point with the added benefit of durability and ease of maintenance.

Global expansion will remain a priority for Vadara, as they have chosen Australia for their subsequent international market activation. Vadara is also exploring further growth opportunities across Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, and other high-potential regions.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released a report highlighting 215 new cases of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) in Great Britain during 2023. HAVS is caused by regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration. As a result, the organisation has created a hand-arm vibration exposure calculator to assist businesses in managing the risks of vibration exposure. This tool can be accessed through the HSE's website: Hand-arm vibration exposure calculator.

In addition to the calculator, guidance on managing vibration risks specifically in construction can be found under HSE’s “Construction Physical Ill Health Risks: Vibration” section. The guidance includes practical steps for employers to protect workers from exposure, such as reducing the use of vibrating tools or introducing vibration-reducing equipment.

The HSE also pointed to a recent case where a local council was fined £60,000 after an investigation revealed that workers had been exposed to significant vibration risks. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of taking preventive measures to protect workers' health. A detailed report on the prosecution is available on the HSE's website.

To further assist businesses in managing vibration risks, the HSE will be hosting a one-day training course on hand-arm vibration management on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at its Science and Research Centre in Buxton. The course will cover best practices for reducing vibration exposure in the workplace and is aimed at employers, managers, and health and safety professionals.

Bookings for the course are now open: Hand-arm vibration: management in the workplace.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has launched its strategy for the next five years. This strategy has been developed to reinforce SPAB’s role as the expert source of advice and skills development for people who care for our built heritage, ensuring old buildings are better managed and valued as an integral part of a low-carbon future.

By 2030, the organisation has pledged to share the SPAB Approach with new audiences whose love of history or ownership of a period property prompts them to discover guidance, training and expertise, while growing and deepening engagement with its supporter base of members, volunteers and enthusiasts.

This year, SPAB will complete its site-based training project repairing Old House, Boxley and sell the building. In 2027, the charity will celebrate its 150th anniversary renewing its commitment to seeing all old buildings better understood, cared for and protected, just as William Morris outlined in 1877 when founding SPAB.

Highlights of SPABs strategic focus will be:

• Emphasising the value of the SPAB Approach to sustainability, carbon reduction and energy efficiency in historic buildings.   
• Expanding the reach of its well-established educational activities and advice-giving.   
• Emphasising site-based learning through projects, training events and education programmes, to increase understanding and conservation skills.  
• Sharing the SPAB Approach with new audiences and widening reach through targeted membership campaigns and engagement activities. Ensuring everyone feels welcome and finds its help accessible.   
• Maximising SPAB’s potential to deliver public benefit through cultivating partnerships, compatible sponsorships and grants, and encouraging donations and legacies.  
• Building stronger connections across SPAB’s national branches, regional groups and specialist sections.  
• Maximising the potential of the 150th Anniversary as a celebration of SPAB’s illustrious past and as a launchpad for future activities.

For more information and to download the strategy, visit https://www.spab.org.uk/news/spab-strategy-2025-2030-summary

Ireland's dry stone walls have been officially recognised by UNESCO in its List of Protected Cultural Heritage practices. 

The longest continuous length of dry stone wall in Ireland, known as the Mourne Wall, is located in County Down and snakes a path 35km long across the rugged countryside. It passes over 15 summits of the tallest mountains in the region, known as the Mourne Mountain range, including the majestic Slieve Donard – the highest peak in the north of Ireland at 850m. The impressive wall is constructed entirely from local granite and took eight years to complete, with construction beginning in 1904.

This is the fifth Irish cultural practice to achieve this status with Uilleann Piping officially inscribed in 2017, followed by Hurling in 2018, Irish Harping in 2019 and Irish Falconry in 2021. 

Ken Curran, trustee of The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland wrote on the association's website: "The intangible cultural nature of how the knowledge has been retained, makes it vulnerable to loss without support for the active communities who are the bearers of the practice. The addition of Ireland to the UNESCO inscription is recognition of the many individuals and communities around Ireland still practicing dry stone construction and everyone involved in the safeguarding of the practice. 

"Having had Dry Stone Construction added to the list of countries on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity inscription is wonderful news for all of those communities."