Gardeners fancy railway sleepers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AS OBJECTS of desire go, it must be one of the most unlikely. But as any viewer of BBC1's Ground Force will know, the railway sleeper has become the must-have accessory for the fashion-conscious gardener.
Now, however, the TV series that has made a star of its horticultural makeover expert Charlie Dimmock is creating such demand that prices are spiralling and suppliers are having to import fresh stocks to avert a national shortage.
For those not among the six million who tune in each week to see the team perform garden miracles, railway sleepers are used to edge patios, lawns and water features. Until recently, you could pick up a 10ft sleeper for as little as pounds 12.50; now you would need almost twice as much.
"I like them because they have such a natural finish and so they weather down well," said Ms Dimmock. They are ideal for making a bridge across a stream or ditch because they are so strong."
Railway track maintenance companies and scrap reclamation yards have been inundated with requests from amateur gardeners imitating the celebrity presenters.
Ms Dimmock has already become the Delia Smith of gardening, since most things she recommends become best-sellers. After demonstrating how to plant willow trees, demand for them shot up by 300 per cent at garden centres.
Steve Tomlin of Catbrain Reclamation Services in Painswick Beacon, Gloucestershire said: "Railway sleepers have become part of the new chic. We are one of the biggest yards in the country and we can't get enough of them."
There is only a limited national supply of sleepers. About 90,000 of the national total of 38 million sleepers in use are replaced every year and retail for up to pounds 23 each - a business worth pounds 2m a year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments