Case Studies

When Morrisons Supermarkets allocated space for its brand new store in Bedford there were a number of assessments needed on the site.

Main Contractor McLaren Construction instructed Three Shires Ltd to carry out the ecological aspect of the site. The site consisted of industrial units which had been demolished and areas of scrubland/woodland.

Seven areas of Japanese Knotweed growth were found by the site survey which Three Shires’ dedicated invasive solutions division Herpetosure Invasive Weed Solutions (H.I.S) carried out. These eradication areas covered a total of 5930q m of the site.

Morrisions and McLaren construction had a tight timescale for the proposed build which resulted in Three shires working quickly and effectively to draw up a management plan, allowing the site disruption to be kept to a minimum. The company undertook the Site Root Burial of the rhizome as suggested by the Knotweed code of Practice 2006. This method was deemed most cost and time effective for the client and the development itself and included three phases.

The first phase saw Three Shires implement a fencing system surrounding the infected area with a 5m buffer zone, placement of warning and information signs and initial herbicide application. This was followed with a second phase excavation of all Japanese Knotweed and stock piled root barrier membranes in the designated areas and installation of the Herpetosure Root Stop membrane around the edge of the site to prevent an future infestation. Phase three involved the excavation of suitable site cell burial along with the containment of 2000cu of contaminated material within the Herpetosure Root Stop Japanese Knotweed Barrier which was carried out with consent from the Environment Agency.

Due to the fast and effective work carried out by H.I.S Morrisons Supermarkets were able to continue the development of the site to form car parking for its new store.

Due to the works carried out by Three Shires dedicated Invasive solutions division, H.I.S, the client was able to continue with their development of the site which included a car parking area for the new Supermarket.

As part of E.ON’s £2 billion development off the coast of Worthing, Sussex, Three Shires Limited was invited to work alongside RSK Group to provide advanced ecological works.

Three Shires work focused on land adjacent to Bolney substation in West Sussex where a combination of newt fencing systems was utilised; in areas with a high risk of damage from construction traffic, Herpetosure Newt and Slow worm fencing was chosen to reduce on-going maintenance and protect against breaches of the European Protected Species Licence, whilst in other low risk areas temporary fencing was chosen to reduce upfront cost.

Three Shires initial works included:

• Supply and Installation of 4697 metres of Temporary Newt Fencing
• Supply and Installation of 941 meters of Herpetosure Newt Fencing
• Supply and Installation 803 Pitfall Traps and Refuge Tiles
• Installation of 2 Specially Designed Newt Grids for Vehicle Access
• Supply and Installation of 972 metres of Stock Fencing
• Supply and Installation of 421 metres of Post and Rail Fencing

The amphibian fencing was erected within the timeframes estimated and without any issues. We were especially pleased with the access grilles and panels for the farmers and TSL were very helpful in designing bespoke solutions for access and liaising with the landowners to ensure they were happy and content. The stock fencing was also of a very high standard.

– Victoria Gilby, Principal Ecological Consultant – RSK.

Bolney Substation Works

Three Shires was also commissioned to carryout ecological contracting works by Mott MacDonald on a parallel project to the Rampion Wind Farm development, also adjacent to Bolney Substation.

Here Three Shires works included:

• The installation of 1000 metres of National Grid Owned Herpetosure Newt Fencing removed from Grain LNG Terminal and reinstalled at Bolney.
• Supply and Installation of 1623 metres of Temporary Newt Fencing
• Supply and Installation of 1000 metres of New Herpetosure Newt Fencing
• Supply and Installation of 374 Pitfall Fall Traps
• 2 Hibernacula
• 2 Log Refuge Piles
• Extensive Scrub Clearance, Soft Felling and Destructive Searches.

Herpetosure Newt Fencing has been used on National Grid sites for nine years and panels continue to be reused again and again to great effect – reducing on-going maintenance and product costs whilst working sustainability.

Three Shires Ltd were appointed to work alongside four of the UK’s leading specialists on the landmark Staffordshire Alliance project.

The project, which is being carried out by an alliance formed by Atkins Rail, Laing O’Rouke, Network Rail and Volker Rail, is valued at £250M and will result in the improvement of Staffordshire Rail Infrastructure. This includes improvements to existing rail lines which will allow for new high speed links.

Three Shires were brought on board by the Alliance at the initial tender stage to carry out an Ecological survey and have worked through to the first part of the roll out at Norton Bridge. This involved a four part package from the company which included the reinstallation of over 5000m of Herpetosure newt and slow worm fencing which had been uninstalled at Chiltern Railways.

The four part package as delivered by Three Shires Ltd involved:

BPA Pipeline Diversion:

Three Shires assisted the diversion of the BPA pipeline by carrying out the soft felling of trees and removal of waste, hedgerow removal, hedge gap screening utilising a fine wind and shade knitted HDPE mesh and the installation of 6000m of Herpetosure Newt Fencing and pitfall traps.

Habitat Creation:

The ecological mitigation and translocation requirements on the site resulted in Three Shires creating a landscaped hibernacula which included the introduction of six new ponds, 5 new hibernacula for newt translocation, landscaping, earthworks, seeding and tree, scrub and flower planting, the location setting of log benches, decking and walkways and the installation of French drains. 

Translocation of species:

Under European Protected Species Licence there were 9 chamber badger setts installed along with 2063m of hedge netting, 2 otter holts created, 8 barn owl boxes and 15 bat boxes mounted onto trees and the removal of hedges and mulch on the site.

Site Stock Compound:

The first on site material compound for the construction work was built on site by Three Shires. This involved the delivery of a 385m Green Paladin fence at 1.8m high, two 10m Green Paladin vehicular double access gates, concrete base and hard standing ground laying, 486m of two strand barbed wire stock proof fencing and the construction of the site office.

The high quality of service, skill and project management that Three Shires deliver on its projects has resulted in the contract of over £800K worth of work for the Staffordshire Alliance. This has been made possible, in part, due to the flexibility of the Herpetosure fencing and its re-usability. The company has allowed the Alliance to increase work access three times through the removal and reinstallation of fencing once the indigenous species had been cleared.

As part of Network Rail’s electrification of the main Bristol to Birmingham line, Three Shires Ltd worked alongside J Murphy and Sons on the new Yate to Wapley footbridge.

Three Shires Ltd under took the fencing package which included:

• Bespoke Palisade made to suit the Bridge
• Bespoke Base plate mounted Timber post with Stock fence and line wire
• Made to measure GRP non conductive Fence panels on the bridge
• Chainlink fence installed on the bridge embankments
• 7 line wire and stock fence to Network Rail Access paths
• Install of Network Rail access gates

Since the opening of the footbridge, the project has drawn a lot of attention from local resident groups, the local media and has been put forward for a national award.