RECENT PROJECTS & NEWS
December 2011
Review of research reports relating to landscape regeneration on brownfield land utilising PAS 100 compost
We have recently completed a research review of 46 project reports that record trials undertaken by contractors to Waste and Resources Action Programme throughout England and Scotland. The trials concern the utilisation of BSI PAS 100 green and food-derived composts in a range of market sectors including 'habitat creation and soil manufacture for green landscapes', 'energy crops on brownfield land', 'slope stabilisation and slope control' and 'creation of new large-scale sports facilities such as golf courses', on brownfield land. ERC's assessment of the project reports will contribute to a series of CASE STUDY reports and updated GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE for the use of BSI PAS 100 compost in landscape and regeneration.
(CLICK
HERE TO VIEW THE CURRENT WRAP GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE)
ERC latest papers
October 2011
During 2011 Dr Putwain has co-authored
three peer-reviewed papers and one
conference paper. The papers
report experimental restoration projects located in England. The first paper
involves experimental wet heath translocation in Dorset published in
Ecological Engineering, vol 37,
pages 158-171
(CLICK HERE TO VIEW
ABSTRACT).
The second paper reports on
long-term heathland restoration on former grassland, an experiment that has run
for 17 years published in Biological
Conservation, vol 144, pages 1602-1609.
(CLICK
HERE TO VIEW ABSTRACT).
The third paper reports on the
re-creation of dry heathland and habitat for the silver-studded blue butterfly
at Prees Heath Common Reserve in Shropshire published in
Aspects of Applied Biology, vol
108, pages 247-254.
(CLICK HERE TO
VIEW PFD FILE).
The fourth paper reports on soil
physical properties and vegetation establishment on brownfield sites using
manufactured soils published in
Ecological Engineering, vol 37, pages 1700-1708
(CLICK
HERE TO VIEW ABSTRACT).
December 2010
TRIALS FOR THE RESTORATION OF NATURALISTIC WOODLAND AND SPECIES-RICH MEADOW GRASSLAND AT BROUGHTON CRAGGS FORMER LANDFILL SITE
A WASTE AND RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME - TRAILBLAZER PROJECT
Ecological
Restoration Consultants was commissioned by Cumbria County Council to
undertake the design, management and monitoring of a field trial located at
Broughton Craggs former landfill situated in an old limestone quarry near to
Cockermouth. The site supports a population of native red squirrel which is a
protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and a
UK BAP Priority Species. The primary aim of habitat restoration will be to
create woodland vegetation which will enhance the habitat for red squirrel. The
WRAP supported Trailblazer project utilised existing in situ subsoils
blended with imported PAS 100 compost created from green waste or from food
waste to enhance soil quality so that excellent tree growth would be achieved,
together with species-rich meadow grassland. It was intended that the trial
would
provide Cumbria County Council with the confidence to utilise PAS 100 compost in
the restoration of other former landfill and derelict brownfield sites.
Ecological Restoration Consultants have, to date, monitored the development of the grassland
species assemblage and growth of trees for a period of two years following the
establishment of the trial.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT
September 2010
An ecologically led restoration of the former Cronton Colliery, Knowsley, Merseyside, UK
The former Cronton Colliery site is located in the borough of Knowsley, Merseyside. Deep coal mining ceased in the early 1980’s and the site remained derelict until 1997 when the first stage of restoration on the site (substantial woodland planting) was undertaken by University of Liverpool (Dr Phil Putwain) in collaboration with Balfour Beatty plc. This involved amendment of acid (pH 3.3 – 3.5) colliery spoil with paper crumb (500t/ha) and sewage sludge (100t/ha) followed by woodland planting on part of the site.
The site was acquired by the Land trust (originally the Land Restoration Trust) who intended to restore the remaining unvegetated areas. The WRAP Trailblazer programme funded a trial (commenced in May 2007) which utilised BSI PAS 100 green compost that was rotavated into certain areas (at a very low application rate –circa 100 tonnes per hectare) or spread as a surface mulch (20mm depth) in other areas. ERC was commissioned by WRAP to undertake botanical monitoring and a survey of soil chemistry in autumn 2010, after four growing seasons. Dr Phil Putwain in collaboration with David Evans (the Land Trust) presented results obtained in the period 2007 – 2008 at a British Land Reclamation Society International Conference held at the University of Glamorgan, September 2010.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CONFERENCE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE RESTORATION OF CRONTON COLLIERY
August 2010
SAFEGUARDING THE
SILVER-STUDDED BLUE BUTTERFLY
CREATION OF NEW LOWLAND HEATH HABITAT AT PREES HEATH COMMON, NORTH
SHROPSHIRE
Starting in 2007, Butterfly Conservation commenced work in order to create a large area
of lowland heathland on arable land at Prees Heath Common, Whitchurch,
Shropshire. The existing small area of heathland at this site supports
the only remaining colony of the silver-studded blue (Plebeius argus)
in the English midlands. A much larger area of heathland covered the
site one hundred years ago and thus the heathland heritage provides a
historical precedent for heathland creation.
Ecological Restoration Consultants was commissioned by Butterfly
Conservation to provide guidance on how the site could be successfully
restored to the target heathland vegetation which is a priority BAP
habitat for Shropshire. Successful
restoration to heathland is feasible due to the presence of underlying
nutrient deficient sands and gravels.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW CURRENT PROGRESS OF THIS PROJECT
The ARCHIVE contains details of past projects undertaken by Ecological Restoration Consultants Limited. To view the ARCHIVE pages please click HERE.