Our client Natural England commissioned us to regenerate a 15 hectare site to restore the hydrology to its previous condition.
Our approach to this site was to increase the water table as much as is possible, the exact restoration technique was decided on site as works progressed by our expert operators. Work included:
This project completed in November 2009 utilised our 360 excavators fitted with low ground pressure tracks which enable us to access very fragile and sensitive habitat. We are very pleased with the results as can be seen in the photographs of the site.
Working with the Natural England and the Northern Catchment team of United Utilities we are restoring an area of bare peat to reduce erosion, to restore the delicate surface vegetation and to minimise the knock-on effects of the increased run-off on the rivers, improving water quality.
Using geogute netting and a brash mulch on the ground a total restoration plan has been followed. The proposed work will create a micro climate for heather seedlings to take, this will stabilise and re-vegetate the eroding peat hags and gullies.
The project covering a 41.21 hectare site is due to be completed in 2009 having immediate effects and the regeneration results seen in 2010.
Four low ground pressure excavators were deployed to return the site back to wet peatland. The dams all recorded by GPS systems located in the machines show the client the exact work done.
Working closely with the client, The Life Project RSPB, our experienced operators worked systematical over the site making sure the project aims were efficiently fulfilled to a high standard.
Our expertise in blocking grips is second to none. Using specially designed machines we are able to reach even the remotes of places and keep above the peat.
The benefit of Grip Blocking to the moorland ....
The grips across this site reached over 110 kilometres, all requiring a systematic approach to successfully dam the water and raise the water table.
The site near Cattrick Garrison has been developed into a wet meadows site for the UK’s breeding wading birds. Commissioned by Foxglove Nature Reserve our involvement was to design and build a habitat suitable for many species creating a diverse ecosystem.
Important to the site was a water source, which could be controlled by the reserve managers to enable control of the wetlands. Our solution was to design and build a sluice dam to collect and control water which can be diverted into a gravity fed supply pipe system.
The water across the reserve is controlled by constructed bunds and scrapes, these scrapes are similar to others designed by DMS on other sites for RSPB.
On the site a timber bird hide has been constructed, enabling a secretive glimpse of the wildlife as they establish themselves over the site.
Hopefully the site shall continue to develop and grow into a unique sanctuary where wildlife can prosper.
