Challenges & Scope

•  All works had to be undertaken outside of the breeding bird season (March to August, inclusive) in order to ensure that no nesting birds are disturbed as part of the works.
• Works carried out avoided in periods of inclement weather and heavy consistent rain in order to minimise potential impacts on the habitats at individual points and their surrounds.
• The agreed access to each location both through machinery and on foot was adhered to throughout the works in order to ensure no additional erosion or damage to surrounding habitats through access of contractors or machinery as detailed in the Ecological Construction Method Statement. Vehicular access to each location was to be provided to the necessary plant and machinery in order to complete the works.
• Each site was set up in strict accordance to the site set up plans detailed in the Ecological Construction Method Statement. Each site will be surrounded by Heras fencing to demarcate the working area. No storage of materials, plant or soil were to be stored outside of this area. Where possible materials, welfare facilitates, and plant were stored on areas of hardstanding as opposed to vegetation.
• Trak matting was laid along the route of the access. The works area was cordoned off with Heras-type fencing to ensure members of the public did not access the works area. The access used the existing clearing in the forest and was placed in order to minimise potential impacts on surrounding tree roots as far as possible.
• The location of the excavated soil was marked out clearly on the ground and geotextile membrane secured in place in order to keep the excavated soil separate from the existing vegetation within the working area.
• All material excavated had to be lifted and stored separately in the correct order according to turf/vegetation, top soil and subsoil. They were returned in the correct order following the works.
• An area of deadwood present within the working area was not be moved to the edge of the working area and not removed off site.
• No imported materials were to be used, or any re-seeding undertaken.
• Staff and traffic movements were kept to a minimum and no works were to be undertaken outside of the working area.
• Works directly under the canopy of trees was undertaken using hand tools in order to minimise the potential impact on the root system present.
• Any ground water pumping was pumped into settlement tanks prior to discharge. The clean water was subsequently discharged into the ground. Unfiltered water and sediment was not be directly discharged into the surrounding habitats. The exact level of ground water pumping required was dependent on the individual locations and the ground conditions at the time of works.