Wichelstowe

Challenge

Long-term approach

• Phased developments like Wichelstowe present unique ecological challenges, when protected species such as great crested newt and water vole are spread across multiple locations within the site.
• These species require carefully managed habitats that support their needs as the development progresses, yet suitable, optimal habitats are limited within the site’s footprint.
• To ensure ongoing project delivery and alignment with Wichelstowe’s conservation goals, it was critical that all mitigation measures and compensatory habitats not only avoided disruptions to species populations but also maintained their favourable conservation status.
• The long-term nature of this build required strategic, phased planning to guarantee that mitigation features were established early in each phase, preventing any potential delays and avoiding constraints on future phases.
• As protected species populations grew and territories expanded, we needed to be adaptive and forward-thinking, ensuring that the ecological needs of these species were balanced seamlessly with construction timelines.

Approach

Collaboration

Keystone worked closely with the client, adopting a site-wide approach to develop designs and phasing plans to identify and address ecological constraints well in advance. This ensured that habitats could be established prior to the next phase of development.

Drawing on the expertise of our consulting and contracting teams, we implemented innovative and proven techniques to maintain project timelines without compromising ecological outcomes.

Habitats

• Some of the compensatory habitat areas presented challenging terrain, where Keystone’s low-impact machinery played a vital role. From quad-track skid steer loaders to alpine tractors, our specialised equipment allowed year-round access to hard-to-reach areas for habitat creation and maintenance.
• Measures like native plant gardens, wildflower turf, and pollinator-attracting scented gardens enhance the area, while Keystone’s installation of recessed kerbs, wildlife-friendly gully pots, and underpass corridors protect and encourage safe wildlife movement.

Ecology

• In addition to large-scale habitat creation and upkeep, Keystone has conducted extensive monitoring and surveying of protected species, which informs our management strategies.
• We carried out three large-scale water vole translocations, including a collaboration and capture for an off-site reintroduction programme.
• Using advanced technology, including eDNA surveys, static bat detectors, trail cameras, thermal imaging, and drones, we have successfully completed comprehensive surveys within project timelines.
• One of our key innovations has been scanning the unique underbelly patterns of great crested newts, which function like fingerprints, allowing us to track individual movements and assess use of habitat corridors.
• We have delivered over 10 years of ecology monitoring surveys, including for breeding birds, bats, great crested newt (covering more than 60 ponds), water voles and otter (18 km of watercourses), badgers and invasive plant species.

Outcome

Environmental integrity

• The success of the Wichelstowe project is rooted in exceptional client-contractor collaboration, which has fostered over a decade of innovation and best practices. This close working relationship enabled Keystone to secure a great crested newt project licence, the first organisational licence of its kind issued by Natural England, facilitating flexible and seamless project delivery.
• Simple, nature-friendly initiatives have been embraced by both the client and Keystone to support Wichelstowe’s ecological goals.
• The client’s aspirations for environmental integrity, aligned with Keystone’s values, have allowed us to fulfil the site’s potential to harmonise with nature and provide bespoke enhancements for biodiversity.
• To date, over 35 hectares of publicly accessible wildlife habitat have been created and continue to flourish under a comprehensive Landscape Management Plan.
• The site now supports thriving populations of great crested newts, common lizards, slow worms, grass snakes, water voles, and otters, reflecting a significant increase in biodiversity across the development.