Duke’s Meadow (ChiswickBidwells / Thomas’s College)

Practicality Brown were tasked with creating a native species-rich hedgerow with larger tree specimens within which would act as a screen, separating the school’s playing fields and the adjacent allotments. The client was keen to have the works completed as swiftly as possible to achieve an instant visual impact aligning with the client’s ecological principles. The strip of land to be planted would have to be prepared by machine and a small area of established bamboo would need to be excavated and removed from site as hazardous waste. The client also asked for the re-location of six piles of green waste and spoil across the playing fields to be re-purposed as habitat features.

• Utilising our 9t excavator with flail attachment and our remote controlled Robo-flail we cleared the proposed hedgerow area of all long grass, brambles, and other vegetation. (Except the bamboo).
• Surface compaction and bramble roots broken up or removed with a land rake in preparation of planting before a layer of mulch was added.
• Working to an agreed staggered pattern, hedgerow shrubs were notch planted after being coated in root dip solution to give them a better chance of establishing, large native trees were also root dipped and planted every twenty meters.
• The established stand of bamboo was excavated to a depth of a meter to ensure all rhizomes were removed, soil and bamboo was separated for disposal offsite.
• Root barrier was installed against the allotment edge of the excavation to prevent regrowth within the sports field.
• Subsoil and topsoil were brought in to replace the removed soils from the bamboo area.
• Piles of green waste and spoil transferred across the site and tipped within the new nature reserve area; the piles were shaped and now remain as habitat for ground nesting bees and other fauna.
• We supplied and planted 3000 whips and 16 standard trees which included staking, guarding, and mulching.

• The shared space was well used by the school, rugby club and dog walkers, care needed to be taken to protect the public from our activities on site.
• Separating bamboo and soils for offsite disposal.
• Managing vehicle and pedestrian segregation in a busy car park for the public, operatives, and deliveries.

Post completion of the work, the native hedgerow trees have all established. For maintenance we utilised a range of tools, mechanical and handheld, including our flail attachment used to cut back all competing vegetation and our land rake which was pulled through the topsoil to remove large bramble roots that would potentially stifle the growth of the newly planted hedge.

A thick layer of wood chip mulch will help to supress weeds, regulate temperature and retain moisture as the hedge establishes.

The client engaged PB to provide maintenance services following the works. A series of visits to water, weed and trim back the surrounding foliage were undertaken resulting a very high success rate of survival.

Now providing a growing habitat for a wide variety of species and an aesthetically pleasing boundary between field and allotments.

See more case studies from the Practicality Brown Team.