The Best Uses for Tar & Chip in Agricultural Settings
When it comes to surfacing options for farms and rural properties, tar and chip is often the unsung hero. Known for its durability, cost-effectiveness, and rustic appearance, tar and chip surfacing has become a popular solution for agricultural settings across the UK. At March Driveways, we frequently recommend it for farms in and around March, Cambridgeshire due to its excellent balance of performance and value.
Here’s a closer look at how tar and chip can be put to best use in agricultural environments.
Access Roads and Farm Tracks
One of the most practical uses of tar and chip in agriculture is for creating or upgrading access roads. Farms need durable tracks that can withstand repeated use from tractors, trailers, and other heavy machinery. Tar and chip provides a hard-wearing surface that holds up well under pressure and resists erosion far better than loose gravel or earth.
Key advantages:
- Reduces dust and mud in all seasons
- Offers strong traction for both vehicles and pedestrians
- Requires minimal maintenance compared to asphalt or concrete
For working farms with multiple buildings or large acreage, surfacing access roads with tar and chip significantly improves efficiency and reduces wear on vehicles.
Farmyard Hardstandings
Tar and chip is also well-suited for hardstanding areas such as machinery yards, grain stores, and livestock loading zones. These areas need a robust surface that can cope with the movement and weight of equipment without breaking down under stress.
Tar and chip’s textured finish also improves grip, helping to prevent slips during wet or icy conditions—particularly important in areas where livestock or workers are frequently moving about.
Driveways to Farmhouses and Outbuildings
Many farm properties combine working land with residential space. Tar and chip is a great option for surfacing long driveways to farmhouses, barns, or holiday lets, offering a more natural and rural aesthetic than tarmac or block paving.
Because tar and chip blends well with the surrounding countryside, it adds visual appeal while still offering a solid, practical surface.
Benefits include:
- A choice of different coloured aggregates to suit the landscape
- A cost-effective alternative to traditional tarmac
- Good performance even on uneven terrain or sloping driveways
Parking Areas for Staff, Visitors, and Machinery
Farm properties often need designated parking areas for workers, delivery vehicles, or farm machinery. Tar and chip can be used to create clearly defined parking bays without the industrial look of concrete. It is ideal for surfacing larger areas without the high cost typically associated with other surfacing methods.
This solution helps keep parking zones tidy, accessible, and safe year-round.
Cost-Effective Surface for Long Routes
One of tar and chip’s biggest advantages is its affordability for large-scale use. On expansive rural properties where long drives, boundary roads or perimeter tracks need surfacing, tar and chip provides a long-lasting finish at a fraction of the price of asphalt.
Its ability to seal over existing surfaces also makes it a good option for rejuvenating old farm roads without full reconstruction.
Conclusion
For agricultural settings in March, Cambridgeshire, tar and chip is a practical, durable, and aesthetically pleasing choice. Whether you’re looking to upgrade a farm track, create a more usable machinery yard, or simply surface a long driveway with something that blends into the landscape, tar and chip delivers real value.
At March Driveways, we specialise in rural surfacing solutions that meet the unique demands of agricultural clients. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you improve the usability and appearance of your farm or rural property with professionally installed tar and chip.
Call us on: 01354 707 465
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