a 10,000sq m
nature reserve HAS ALSO
BEEn crEATEd nEAr THE
nOrTHErn PErIMETEr
Of THE OLyMPIc PArK,
along the banks
of the rIver lea
important element. Working alongside for strategic and detailed planning documents It can be a multi-organisational and
organisations such as the Environment Agency including publications such as the Biodiversity multidisciplinary effort. Olliver liaises regularly
and natural England, Atkins has ensured that Action Plan, the water space masterplan, and on site with everyone from civil engineers and
the interests of the local wildlife come first, the parklands and public realm planning geotechnical specialists to horticultural experts
while helping developers meet their legal application. With early discussion and a proper and utility inspectors. She ensures that
18
environmental requirements with minimum understanding of the likely effects on a site’s everyone understands their obligations with
disruption and cost. ecology, any potential barriers can be regard to a site’s ecology and to provide
“There may be planning constraints that successfully managed.” assistance where necessary.
contractors are not aware of, so it’s important Planning ahead can produce the best One key area that Olliver is involved in is
that we guide them through that process,” outcome for the species in question and the remediation strategy to clear the site of
says Olliver. “We provide advice to the client minimise surprises later on, when delays to the invasive weed species. This includes Japanese
on what environmental assessments, schedule can have serious cost implications. knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam
monitoring and mitigation are required and “Before you do anything, you have and floating pennywort. These species are
how to implement the various measures as to know what you’re planning for,” managed using environmentally sound
effectively and efficiently as possible.” agrees Olliver, who has been involved techniques prior to construction.
“Legislation such as the natural at the Olympic Park site from the outset. The overall aim is to preserve the Jason Lovering heads up five rivers,
Environment and rural communities Act “you can put your own timelines in place, existing biodiversity or, better still, to an environmental consultancy that has
and the Wildlife and countryside Act are but any species living on the site will have improve it. At the London 2012 site, worked alongside Atkins on several
designed to prevent damage to the rare and their own schedules, whether it be nest- increasing biodiversity through the creation projects at the east London site, one
protected sites around England and Wales,” building, seasonal hibernation or roosting.” and enhancement of habitats has been of which involved the translocation of
says rosemary redmond, Environment As a rule, she adds, the interests of any central to the ongoing ecology programme. a rare habitat to the new reserve.
Agency project manager for London 2012. wildlife come first, so project schedules must nurseries have been planted with cuttings “In one area of the Olympic Park there
redmond adds that the conversation be planned accordingly: “If there are rare from those areas that will be lost to were some old railway sidings that had, over
about ecology has to start right at the birds nesting on a pylon, the removal of construction, in order that the finished site half a century or so, formed a diverse habitat
beginning of the planning process: that pylon will just have to wait.” can be replanted with the original flora. for flora and supported rare invertebrates,”
“Environmental considerations can be A 10,000sq m nature reserve has also says Lovering. “It might not look terribly
seen as a barrier, particularly when there Putting down roots been created near the northern perimeter exciting, but this substrate was actually home
are tight deadlines to deliver a project. Atkins’ ecology consultants work with clients of the Olympic Park, along the banks of the to a species such as the toadflax brocade
We have been heavily involved in the across the UK on projects of all sizes, from river Lea. It is intended that the diverse set moth, which is targeted as a priority for
sustainability and biodiversity objectives preservation and translocation of entire of habitats contained within the reserve will conservation action under the Biodiversity
on London 2012 since the bid stage habitats and populations – as at the London become home to a variety of flora and fauna, Action Plan, so it was important that we
in 2004. We have been a key stakeholder 2012 site – to smaller-scale survey work. including species not previously present. made every effort to preserve it.”
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