Between 2012 and 2014 CDTS South & East undertook large areas of seeding adjacent to the monument itself and around the new infrastructure which made up part of the site’s new visitor centre.

This was a standout project for us and a project we took pride in being part of.

As the UNESCO world heritage site sits on Salisbury plain, it was important that new landscaped areas blended in with the existing chalk grassland found around the site. To achieve this, CDTS South & East engaged with the seed supplier Heritage seeds who brush harvested seed from a local donor site on Salisbury plain for CDTS to use on the site. The seed was then sown to the larger more open areas around the site whilst commercial amenity seed was sown to the areas closer to the visitor centre so they would stand up to heavy footfall and regular maintenance.

Firstly, in late 2012, Hydroseeding was carried out around the new car park. In Spring 2013 cultivation, soil prep and seeding works began around the new visitor centre. The scope of preparation work had to be amended due to a high content of flint found in the site won soil.

Due to the high risk of stone ejection under future maintenance and compounded by the design of the building being constructed using a lot of plate glass, the stone had to be removed.

Using their tractor mounted Harley power rake, all the proposed seeding areas were prepared and raked down to a fine tilth ready for seeding. The stone was then removed by digger and dumper so the final seeding works could be carried out.

After the visitor centre was completed, the old A344 road that ran adjacent to the monument was then reinstated and seeded. A layer of sand was required to be incorporated with the topsoil to improve drainage prior to seeding. This was tackled with CDTS South & East's stone burier and allowed them to quickly mix the top 100mm of sand and soil to make ready for seeding.