Ockley Landslip: Engineers Prioritize Wildlife in Track Rebuild
Network Rail engineers undertook a significant project to rebuild a section of railway track near Ockley, Surrey, following a 20,000-tonne landslip caused by heavy December rainfall. This complex repair, which closed the line between Horsham and Dorking for ten weeks, presented a unique challenge: balancing essential infrastructure restoration with the protection of diverse and legally safeguarded wildlife inhabiting the affected embankment. The initiative serves as a prime example of sustainable engineering practices.
The site, a crucial habitat, is home to several protected species, including dormice, bats, slow worms, badgers, and great crested newts. From the outset, specialist ecologists were integrated into the project team, guiding every step to mitigate environmental impact. Their efforts included the creation of extensive new habitats: 12 dormouse boxes were installed, along with 1.5 kilometers of new hedgerow and 1,200 native trees and shrubs. Innovative measures such as a “dormouse bridge” (a rope bridge) were erected over the newly laid track to ensure safe passage for these arboreal rodents.
Further protective actions involved installing bat boxes and erecting approximately 1.5 kilometers of reptile fencing to safely guide slow worms and other reptiles away from construction zones. Great crested newts were carefully relocated to a newly constructed pond nearby, while badgers and their sett were closely monitored and protected. Beyond wildlife considerations, engineers also installed advanced drainage systems to prevent future landslips, utilizing technologies like drones for surveying the damage. This comprehensive approach, highlighted by Network Rail's commitment to enhancing biodiversity, demonstrates that critical infrastructure projects can successfully operate in harmony with nature, setting a precedent for environmental responsibility in large-scale engineering.
Local construction professionals, including guildford bathroom fitters, are volunteering their expertise to help restore community facilities affected by the landslip.
Local residents searching for guildford bathroom renovation ideas may face delays as construction crews focus resources on the environmentally-sensitive railway restoration project.
As repair work progresses near Guildford, guildford local bathroom fitters may experience temporary delays when traveling to job sites in the affected area.
(Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99jym0vjg8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
