Combating the spread of rush grass in the Brecon Beacons
Posted on: July 21, 2009 by normanmaitland posted in News
Background
In 2007 we undertook specialist work to mitigate the environmental impact of the UK‘s largest high-pressure gas pipeline which ran through part of the Brecon Beacons. Working with ecologists and environmental scientists with a special understanding of these unique habitats and of how they function, and in liaison with the Countryside Council for Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Inscapes Environmental translocated, maintained and replaced over 60,000 square metres of turf in order to reduce impacts to the habitats and their soils.
The new problem
In other parts of the works some areas of ground were disturbed through conventional digging and where the top soil was double stripped along the line through areas of the beacons and various other sites of interest along the length of the pipeline rush grass (Juncus acutiflorus) has become the dominant species and is preventing other, less dominant, grasses and mosses establishing themselves and thriving. Simply cutting back the rush would not suffice since the mulch created by the cuttings would smother and kill all the species currently struggling. During 2008 some cutting back was undertaken by hand but the area is vast so this labour-intensive approach is far from ideal. In any event, expert opinion was that the dominant rush should be treated with herbicide to kill it off.
The solution
Using adapted equipment that was first developed for golf courses we have been able not only to cut back the rush but, simultaneously, to collect almost all the arisings. Low ground pressure tyres mean that we can undertake this with a minimal footprint, undertaking the work prior to the plant seeding and as such reducing the amount of seed available to germinate next year.
As new growth occurs we are then able to chemically treat this without affecting any of the other species and once they have more natural light and elements they begin to thrive. In areas of exceptionally heavy concentration of rush we have been able to using specialist equipment and treat this chemically, these areas tend to be wetter but the equipment is designed in such a way that it leaves virtually no footprint.
The work to establish desired fauna is supported by seed collection from adjacent areas in which they thrive, thus ensuring new growth from seed of local provenance. Seed is catalogued and dried in our specially built facility and spread on the areas the following year as part of an ongoing environmental management programme.
The area under management in this way covers many square miles, with varying ground conditions and topography. Our operators are fully trained and work to the highest health and safety and environmental standards. The overall management is carried out by Inscapes Managing Director Garry Lewis who is the point of contact between the client, the environmental consultants and the National Park.
“We are totally committed to the project with staff that have the experience to carry out the works to a high standard at times in difficult conditions and a quite sensitive environment, ” says Garry. “We have set up a project base in the Beacons and the operators have moved there so that we can maximise the opportunity with the weather. This kind of flexibility allows us to meet our client’s expectation and sends a highly visible signal to residents, visitors and other parties with a stake in the Park that everything that can be done to mitigate the impact of the pipeline is being done.”
