As we move further into 2025, we see that landscape design is ever evolving towards sustainability, practicality, and environmental awareness. At Long Rake Spar, we’re proud to be part of a movement that’s reshaping how builders’ merchants and their customers approach outdoor spaces.
Among the key trends, hardcore gardening is gaining significant traction, with aggregates becoming ever more popular due to their low-maintenance, low-cost appeal. Aggregates provide structural stability, enhance drainage and contribute to the aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces. Proper water management is a critical aspect of sustainable landscaping, where aggregates allow water to infiltrate the ground, reducing runoff. This is especially important in urban areas where impermeable surfaces contribute to flooding. Hardcore gardening also minimises water usage with the top layer of aggregate/mulch preventing water evaporation from the soil in hot weather and keeping soil temperatures cooler.
Another major trend for 2025 is the emphasis on wildlife-friendly landscapes. More homeowners and contractors are seeking ways to develop outdoor spaces that support pollinators, birds, insects and other wildlife. Natural aggregates used in gravel paths, in gabion baskets and for stone walling, for instance, provides both aesthetic appeal and crucial habitats for small creatures, enhancing biodiversity while maintaining beautiful, structured, and functional landscapes.
In 2025, outdoor spaces are about more than aesthetics, they are about resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability. As a Planet Mark certified business, Long Rake Spar is proud to supply aggregates that are sourced meticulously considering factors such as sustainable supply, processing standards and material consistency. It is this attention to detail that help builders’ merchants provide customers with aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly aggregates that align with today’s landscaping trends.
“As sustainability continues to shape customer demand in 2025, we’re seeing a real shift in how outdoor spaces are approached,” says Shane McCormick, National Sales Manager at Long Rake Spar. “Natural aggregates are no longer just a design choice, they’re a solution for water management, biodiversity, and long-term resilience. Builders’ merchants are recognising the importance of offering products that are not only beautiful but environmentally responsible, and we’re proud to support that transition.”
See our full range of aggregates online at www.longrakespar.co.uk.
