Initially CDTS South & East were contracted by FCC environment to undertake the seeding element of the restoration work on the capped areas of landfill. This led to work elsewhere around the site.

Firstly, CDTS South & East carried out some tree and shrub planting amongst the seeded areas of landfill, shortly after completing these, they were given ecological mitigation works in other parts of the restored site. These works included more tree and shrub planting, hedgerow planting, pond digging and more wildflower seeding and overseeding.

In 2016 a parcel of neighbouring agricultural pasture was fenced off for the ecological mitigation works. A large stretch of native hedgerow was planted along the new boundary creating a new wildlife corridor, more habitat and increased the natural food resource for local wildlife. The new hedgerow was also tied in with the existing well-established hedgerows at either end of the site and created a junction with one in the middle, allowing for the dispersal of wildlife between previously isolated areas of land.

Part of these works also included the digging of a small naturally fed pond. The pond was dug out and landscaped in one day. The spoil was bunded, raked and seeded with a perennial wildflower mix whilst the banks of the pond were left for natural regeneration to promote and boost local populations of freshwater plants, amphibians and invertebrates.

The ex-pasture around the pond and adjacent to the hedging was flailed back with the arisings collected and then over-sown with yellow rattle. The advantages of over-sowing grassland with yellow rattle are that it’s a semi parasitic plant that feeds off the nutrients that other vigorous grasses rely on. By restricting this growth, it creates more space and therefore provides an opportunity for plants and wildflowers to grow, ultimately resulting in a more diverse sward to the benefit of pollinators.

CDTS South & East still visit the site to this day to carry out the remaining restorative works to the landfill for FCC and seeding to new developments at the site undertaken for Jones Bros construction.