Railway Lane, Lewes - Salix Solutions

The integrity of the existing blockwork facing was deteriorating as a result of the tidal inundation and draw-down cycles together with areas of groundwater seepages emanating from the slope profile.

Before work commenced railway line Lewes

The old block facing is removed

Salix Rock Mattresses sit neatly

Lewes Railway Lane in Aug 2015

The prefilled Salix Rock Mattresses are lifted and placed using the inbuilt straps

Lewes in Aug 2015

Before work commenced

The old block facing is removed

Sedimentation

Colonisation

Salix Rock Mattresses sit neatly

Lewes in Aug 2015 with banks greening up

The pre-filled Salix Rock Mattresses are lifted and placed using the inbuilt straps

Lewes in Aug 2015, banks naturalising

The Environment Agency are responsible for the river bank stability at Railway Lane, Lewes.

The integrity of the existing blockwork facing was deteriorating as a result of the tidal inundation and draw-down cycles together with areas of groundwater seepages emanating from the slope profile.

The Salix Rock Mattresses are all butted and mechanically stitched together with “hog rings” so as to form one continuous flexible revetment.

The pore-water pressure from the profile can be released through the fabric and porous rock sheet.

As the tides flood over the surface and retreat, so the engineered appearance will moderate with the accreting sediment that will lodge in the stone interstices.

Along with this process will come the opportunity for colonisation by plants, adding biodiversity and landscape value.

Products Used

Rock Mattress installed Lockwood Reservoir with built in lifting strops

Pre-filled Rock Mattresses

Rock Mattresses are a robust and permanent revetment for use around reservoirs, shorelines, lake edges, streams and river banks. They are cost-effective revetments that are suitable alternatives to rock rip rap and gabions…

Details

Client: The Environment Agency
Location: Lewes
Rivers & Water Courses, Salt Marshes & Intertidal Rivers

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 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

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

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

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

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 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