As part of a new solar array in Kent, a 2 km power cable linking the new array to existing power lines was installed
It was imperative for the connection to be made ahead of a drop in the feed-in tariff, but this led to the main contractor operating in suboptimal conditions, resulting in damage to land drains, soil structure and also the landowner’s trust.
Our experience and common sense approach to land reinstatement regained the trust of both the client and the landowner.
Owing to waterlogging and rutting of the land, the reinstatement needed to be undertaken over two seasons to ensure the ground was in a suitable condition to work and install the drains.
The tasks undertaken included:
- weed spraying
- subsoil grading
- repairs to land drains
- subsoiling to alleviate compaction
- replacing topsoil
- grass seeding
- repairs to fences and replanting of hedgerows
- removal of stock fencing after grass establishment.
Close coordination with landowners was key to the success of the project, ensuring that arable harvest and drilling dates were worked around whenever possible to have the least impact on farming operations.
Our main objective was to return the land back to a farmable state that the landowner was happy with.