East Halton Wet Grassland Creation
Case study
East Halton Wet Grassland Creation
Wet grassland creation, water control and habitat works on the banks of the River Humber at East Halton.
Scope
Situated on the banks of the River Humber, the East Halton wet grassland project took shape during the course of 2018.
A design involving a network of earth scrapes over a 44 hectare site with an interlinked framework of drainage ditches and water control structures, this ambitious project sought to provide additional habitat for flora, fauna and wildlife.
This project encompassed:
- Existing live watercourse management.
- Earth bund formations.
- Ditch excavations.
- Earth scrapes to designed plan.
- Inlet reservoir creation.
- Wind turbine installations.
- Culverts.
- Hedgerow removal.
- Footbridge installation.
- Landscaping, planting & seeding.
- Sheet piling.
Key Aspects
Water Control Structures & Management
A series of water control structures were planned as part of the design involving weirs, wind turbine pumping, valves and pipework to ensure the water supply was adequately managed and distributed.
Efficiency
Part of this project placed importance on adherence to programme and to a certain extent, to expedite it. To this end, Sweeting Bros Ltd invested in bespoke designed excavation buckets, to replicate the scrape profile and improve efficiency and timing during the works which spanned a 44 hectare site.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLS7MrCt8QQ
Wind turbine pump installation
Bespoke angled bucket to increase efficiency and programme
Challenges
Health & Safety
All workings were carried out compliantly under CDM 2015 protocols requiring Construction Phase Plans together with comprehensive assessment of all risks and method statements to minimise risks for all work elements.
Sweeting Bros Ltd are unique in that we have invested in mountain rescue sleds and equipment to facilitate patient evacuation in the event of an accident. Our work is often in secluded, inaccessible areas with very poor ground conditions such that ambulances or a helicopter may sink.
Working with Water
Working in or around water poses hazards for employees arising from the natural environment. The presence of vermin and exposure to leptospirosis twinned with the possibility of drowning, all add to the normal risks involving accidents concerning machinery and moving parts.
Pumping out of accumulating / rising ground water and the management of existing live watercourses using cofferdams, stoplogs and over pumping is often necessary to ensure safe working conditions.
Dust Management
In very dry conditions, earth moving can generate significant dust nuisance to surrounding areas and it is necessary to deal with this.
Unexploded Ordnance
When excavating in certain areas, it is necessary to undertake unexploded ordnance surveys and develop a protocol for dealing with any should any come to be found.
Nearby Hull was the most heavily bombarded city/town in the UK by the Luftwaffe during World War II, making almost half the city’s population homeless and 95% of all homes damaged. Surrounding areas were also heavily bombed, possibly in error due to decoys with many not found and now lying dormant.
Sweeting Bros Ltd have significant experience over the last 50 + years of managing this risk.
Planning a wetland or watercourse project?
Speak to Sweeting Bros about practical wetland creation, water control and environmental works.