Public Places
Spreading the loam
scaffolding has been removed
- The soil taken with the turf has a good seed bank within it. Whilst this would be undesirable on a
sportsfield, it is a positive benefit in soft caps and helps aid re-establishment after dry summers (forget last year - we do get them occasionally!!) when even the most drought tolerant species can succumb
Soil with a high clay content is avoided, as this is likely to crack during dry spells and allow water to get into the core of the wall when it rains. The edges of the soft cap
are the most difficult to establish, because they are most exposed to drying out, particularly on the south facing side of a wall, and the research team are currently experimenting with planting Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum) plugs into the sides of freshly installed caps in case the grasses die and, on older caps where the sides have already died back, to try to prevent the exposed soil eroding away.”
Back on site, Alan was assessing the progress being made and ensuring the contractors had enough turf to complete the job; to date, they had harvested over 2000 square metres of turf from a nearby field. The field
belongs to English Heritage, but is rented out to a local tenant farmer who grazes sheep on the land as part of the management plan. All the turf was lifted using a pedestrian turf cutter, with turf being rolled by hand and transported by wheelbarrow into the abbey ruins. The turf had been cut in
small rolls at a depth of approximately 25mm to retain as much soil as possible. It was then placed in situ on the top of the imported loam soil to cap the walls and any exposed masonry.
Alan was also keen for me to see the technique of planting the sedum into the sides of the soft capping to provide some additional protection during dry periods. He had actually propagated the plants himself. He remains confident that, once the work is completed and the turf becomes established, the soft capping will come into its own in the coming years and slow down the rate of erosion.
It is only when you see, at first hand, the work being undertaken by English Heritage that you get an understanding of how important these wonderful historic sites are to the nation and how vital the organisation’s work is across England.
3 Tonne Gravel Bander -
Shelton
Sportsturf Drainage Solutions Machinery Sales, Hire & Contracting
World Leading Performance
www.sheltonsdrainage.co.uk Tel: 01507 578288
Chain Trencher -
Completed areas APRIL/MAY 2013 PC 109
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