Cedar
A tree native to mountainous regions from North America to Asia, cedar is known for its strong properties. There are many species of cedar but western red is commonly used for gardening purposes.
Pros
Cons
- Whilst native to areas outside of the UK, the species was introduced to Britain, planted in the UK for timber. British red cedar wood will be locally sourced and reduce emissions in terms of transport.
- Whilst some species of cedar are endanger, the western red cedar in Britain is not.
- The wood is durable and naturally resistant to fungi, due to natural preservatives.
- Cedar woods can be found FSC certified.
- The wood is usually reasonably priced.
- Imported red cedar tends to be more durable than locally sourced, but not by too much. Imports will also have more impact on the environment due to the amount they will travel.
- Cedar imported from non-certified sources and from abroad may have further environmental impacts, threatening habitats along with indigenous cultures.
Slate
Slate
A dark coloured stone, slate is a fairly durable stone commonly used for tiles in roofing, but slate can also be used for paving -- and is important in sustainable landscaping.
Pros
Cons
- Slate quarries in Wales used to be massive, whilst production has reduced, it is possible to buy slate from Wales, which will reduce the environmental costs caused from transport.
- Whilst durable, slate is not as durable as most other stones, and heavy rains and frost can chip it. (ref)
- Spain, Brazil and China are all big exporters of slate to the UK. Research has demonstrated that relative emissions for transporting slate from Spain to the UK is around 800kg, with Brazil's emissions being around 4400kg and China being the highest polluter at 8000kg. (ref)
Slate Summary
Slate can be locally sourced, notably from Wales. Local stone will not travel as far to get to gardens and it will not have as big of an impact for the environment and climate, whereas stone imported from further away emits a lot more carbon and can help contribute to enhanced climate change. Another downside to Slate can be seen in its durability, whist fairly durable, heavy rain and frost can chip it, and considering that the UK gets both of these, it may be worth looking at alternates and harden materials such as Bricks or Granite.
