Cockle shells mulch at Shawfield.

Tons and tons of these cockle shells are being used as mulch in the landscaping works at the emerging and impressive National Business District at Shawfield. Give off a bit of a whiff but apparently this will disappear with time. I hope so.

Cockle shells generally appear cream with light brown stripes which fade over time. Their use as mulch is becoming increasingly popular not only for decorative purposes in garden and landscaping projects but also for use as a drainage layer for 'Green Roof' projects. Up until recently cockle shells were discarded as waste but recent television programs have highlighted the benefits of using them as an aggregate. Cockle shells are also an important component of water filtration systems with various water treatment works and waste processing plants opting for them as a filtration media.