Thursley National Nature Reserve

Challenge

Scale, Environment and Retained Public Access

• The Thursley site is sizeable, and with boardwalk covering some 950 metres, this presented challenges for material logistics and the management of public safety. It was essential that public access to the site was not impacted by the works, with many visitors attending site each day.
• A large gas pipeline runs across site and this needed careful mitigation to prevent plant movements and deliveries from impacting it.
• Microplastic pollution was a key concern with regular cutting and drilling needed of the HDPE plastics in construction of the boardwalk and careful management by the construction team was needed to prevent environmental pollution.

Approach

• In order to agree a suitable design, a design brief was completed along with buildability assessments and designers risk assessments. A design was agreed upon that utilised a composite of both plastic and timber materials to give durability to the conditions on site, longevity and an appropriate aesthetic reminiscent of the previous boardwalk – blending in appropriately with the environment to not look out of place.
• Installation works were planned for the winter months, commencing in September 2022, so that ecological impacts to birds and other species that use the site was minimised, accepting that the conditions for installation would more challenging.
• Keystone worked to agree a suitable working methodology in order that all areas could be accessed for the purpose of boardwalk installation, using mechanical means for efficiency where possible. Utilising our specialist low ground pressure equipment, ingenious material transport and prep methods, and a sensitive approach to environmental, the installation progressed efficiently and with little impact to the sensitive environments around the boardwalk.
• Satellite compounds were set up and public access to key works areas was carefully managed – in unison with the reserve rangers and client – in order that materials could be distributed efficiently, and installation works could be completed safely. Public management works were completed using a combination of communications, signage, fencing and banksman controls during works.
• Robust methods for swarf capture were devised and twinned with key preparations of materials in compounds before delivery to the install location aided suitable management of this environmental risk.
• Regular site meetings were held with the client and site rangers to ensure good communication, progress updates and appropriate management of public access.

Outcomes

Connectivity with nature

• The boardwalk installation was completed in early 2022 to the delight of the general public who are now able to access key areas of site throughout the year.
• The client was delighted with the install and instructed additional boardwalk to provide further connectivity to other areas of site instead of the originally proposed pathway.
• Minor trackway remedial works were completed to make good satellite compound areas and thoroughfares, restoring accessways appropriately.
• A few disturbed areas were turned into wetland scrapes before the team demobilised, to facilitate enhancement to the environment in these areas.
• The growing season that followed installation has meant that the boardwalk has now blended perfectly into the vegetation on site and the sinuous nature flows through the reserve around the wetlands, trees and other vegetation.
• The boardwalk is used extensively across the reserve and provides daily access to visitors, it has been very well received by the client, rangers and public.