Olympic Park Wetlands - Salix Solutions

Salix were involved in making the Olympic Park a reality, when we were awarded the prestigious Tier 2 Contract in 2009 to grow all the wetland and wet wildflower plants...

Wetlands on Super Saturday

Before Works Began

2008 Planting Trials

6 Olympic Wetland Bowl During Works

Close Up of Coir Plant Beds

Wetbeds at the Nursery Growing Plants Into Coir

Olympic Park Wetland 2012

Wetlands on Super Saturday

Aerial View of Wetlands

Before Works Began

2008 Planting Trials

Coir Pallets Installed On Site

Olympic Wetland Bowl During Works

Close Up of Coir Plant Beds

Wetbeds at the Nursery Growing Plants Into Coir

Olympic Park Wetland 2012

Salix were involved in making the Olympic Park a reality, when we were awarded the prestigious Tier 2 Contract in 2009 to grow all the wetland and wet wildflower plants for the parklands representing the UK’s largest ever wetland plant procurement order for the largest bioengineering project ever undertaken in the UK.

In 2008 Salix were awarded the contract to undertake the on-site installation of a Wetland Planting Trials Scheme, which was successful and lead to our prestigious Tier 2 Contract Award, the only one awarded to grow virtually every one of over 350,000 native wetland and wildflower plants for the entire parkland.

The trials showed that only pre-established vegetation grown off site for a minimum of one year survived. It was the only way to establish successful growth, as standard plug planting failed due to a number of factors including fluctuating water levels and high sediment loads.

These plants were grown to maturity at our own nursery in Norfolk within Coir Rolls and Coir Pallets and then planted very carefully by teams of experienced installers.

In all over 23,000 metres of pre-established Coir Pallets and Rolls were installed to ensure that the Parklands were a vibrant and viable ecological environment both at the opening ceremony and into the future legacy phase.

Here are some key facts to consider:

264 Hectares of brownfield land were developed
Largest new Parkland in the UK in living memory
Key role for Wetlands Landscape in the overall project
8km plus of restored riverbanks
Rare wet woodland, and amphibian pond installations completed
Overall, the largest single bioengineering project ever seen in the UK

Your staff are always friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and we have always been pleased with the service and the quality of the wetland plants and planting services. Technical knowledge on erosion control is also excellent. Keep up the good work!

Living Water Ecosystems Ltd

We have worked with Salix on a number of projects throughout East Anglia over the last 6 years, and we have always found them to be highly professional and competent. We have used their services as suppliers of quality wetland plants, with a traceable provenance, and as contractors to both supply and plant the wetland plants. In addition we have always relied on the technical advice and knowledge of David Holland, in particular, to help answer queries from our clients regarding wetland planting schemes we have been involved in, this is an added value part of their service, for which we are grateful.

UPM Tilhill

HydraCX gave an immediate impression the embankment was grassed, making it more visually pleasing to our travelling customers. The rapidity of grass growth was exceptional and it added additional strength to the slope surface.

Network Rail

We invited Salix to re-landscape the watercourse through a design and build project. The works to the watercourse were completed within two weeks of starting on site and, despite a number of prolonged heavy rain events both during and after the works, the pre-established coir rolls and pallets all began putting on new growth within a matter of days providing the watercourse with instant channel vegetation and protection to the toe of the banks. The VMax reinforcement used to stabilise the slopes has also prevented any erosion to the sandy soil beneath and has allowed the rapid establishment of grass which wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.

South Ribble Council

We used HydraCX for the first time on a Network Rail project in Chipping Campden. We wanted to establish vegetation growth as quickly as possible on a slope with poor ground conditions without the need for importing topsoil due to possession time constraints. HydraCX provided an excellent growing medium for rapid germination.

Carillion Rail

Excellent overall performance – very approachable and offered a good sustainable solutions to rectify a significant erosion scour to the river foreshore without comprising the existing flood defence. Carried out work to agreed timescale and budget. Certainly would value their future input.

Environment Agency, Leeds

Atkins has worked with Salix on a number of projects, collaborating on design concept, trialling and implementation. We have found their experience valuable in delivering cost effective and environmentally functional solutions.

Atkins