The soil we supply here at Stone Zone goes through rigorous testing, and extra steps are taken to ensure it is as eco-friendly as possible.
It is more important now than ever to ensure the products we sell are not harmful to the environment, and to reassure you further, we have created an overview of the journey our soil goes through.
The Journey of our Eco-Friendly Topsoil
The process behind our best-selling Wessex® topsoils is environmentally friendly and sustainable. This topsoil is made from recycled soils that have come from local areas around Dorset, as unwanted or unused waste collected by gardeners and landscapers.
This recycled soil then goes through a screening process locally in Dorset, which ensures the consistency of the soil, eliminating large stones, sticks and other bits of debris. After this, the soil is tested and undergoes a quality assurance process, checking things like particle size, pH level and temperature. If it passes, it is then awarded the British Standard 3882 rating.
PAS 100 green compost then gets added to this BS3882 soil at the same site. This compost has also been recycled, as green waste from people's gardens and other areas that have had trees cut down. At a local site in Dorset, this recycled green waste is cut down and composted using a windrow turner. The compost is constantly turned for 12 weeks to distribute heat, regulate temperature, distribute moisture and improve oxygen content.
Once the PAS 100 compost is ready, both the soil and the compost go through a large mixing machine which distributes each product evenly throughout. This entire process happens on the same site in Dorset, which is where our warehouse is based. Once the final product has been produced, large loads of this soil arrive at our warehouse, ready to sell in-store and online.
With the soil and peat-free compost being created entirely from recycled materials, and no virgin trees or marsh having been cut away for our soil's production, this is a sustainably sourced product. And with this topsoil being screened and mixed all on one site, it lowers the carbon emissions that would have been created if it were passed from site to site.
With all the transport contained within Dorset, this soil has a very low carbon footprint, so you can rest assured you are buying locally produced soil. It is also environmentally friendly, containing peat-free, green goodness that will make your soil and plants thrive!
What is PAS 100 Green Compost?
Our peat-free green compost is made entirely from recycled green waste, mulched and then composted in windrow turners, before undergoing a testing process.
Publicly Available Specification is a widely recognised compost quality standard within the organics recycling sector.
To ensure a high standard of compost, PAS is set by the British Standards Institution, which requires producers to establish a top-quality production policy.
This product status is given in recognition of non-hazardous waste that contains biodegradable materials only, making it safe to use in both domestic and commercial settings.
What does BS3882 mean?
The British Standard 3882 certification for topsoil has been laid out to ensure a consistently high performance grade; a standard set out by the British Standards Institution, revised from the original 1994 version.
BS3882 is measured on three factors: soil structure and classification, freedom from contamination, and fertility. BS3882 topsoil suppliers are also able to supply the results of the soil analysis, which include the origin of the soil, the contamination parameters and written confirmation that the soil complies with the BS3882 standard.
The Wessex® Soils Range
1. Wessex® BS3882 10mm Soil: our Wessex 10mm is a mixture of top-quality local British Standard topsoil and PAS 100 green compost.
2. Wessex® Blended 10mm Loam Topsoil: our Wessex blend of loam topsoil is freshly blended and created specifically for planting that requires good drainage as well as the ability to retain nutrients. This multi-purpose soil is suitable for many different growing mediums, such as potted flowers and plants.
3. Wessex® Borders & Beds Topsoil: our highly reviewed blend of 10mm Borders & Beds topsoil is freshly screened and then blended locally in Dorset, consisting of organic, peat-free compost mixed with high-quality British Standard 3882 soil. This unique mix has been created specifically with slow-releasing nutrients for a variety of plants.
4. Wessex® Fruit & Veg Topsoil: our Wessex blend of fruit and vegetable topsoil is freshly blended and created specifically with growing in mind. This soil is suitable for many different crops for consistent growth. It does not contain manure, which can sometimes be harmful to fruit and veg.
5. Wessex® Lawn & Turf Seeding Soil: our Wessex blend of lawn and turf seeding soil is freshly blended and created specifically for the fast root establishment of grass seed. This is a sandy soil which is very easy to work with and spread across large areas, for the best chance of growing fresh grass.
6. Wessex® Eco Coffee Soil: guaranteed to stimulate plant growth, our Wessex Eco Coffee Soil consists of 100% recycled soil tested to the BS3882 standard, thoughtfully blended with locally sourced recycled coffee grounds and PAS 100 organic compost that is completely peat-free.
