River Rhiw Bank Protection - Salix Solutions

Salix were awarded the contract and began works to carry out 300 metres of riverbank protection to protect this existing exposed high pressure gas pipe in March 2013.

Aerial of river Rhiw

Over 30m of High Pressure Gas Pipeline exposed by erosion

Over 200m of severe bank erosion

04 Installing a live brush mattress revetment with whole tree toe

Brush Mattress after 8 months growth and after 4 bankfull flood events

River Rhiw in 2017

2017 bed load response is protecting the pipeline

14 LDW after 12 months

Installing Large Woody Deflectors (LWD)

12a Completed Rootwad bank revetment

Rootwad bank after 4 months

Placing Rootwad revetments

Completed Revetment

Revetment greening after 3 months

Staking branches and brash into place

Placing felled branches

08 Logging the tree limbs

Using a whole tree to create an engineered log revetment

Over 30m of High Pressure Gas Pipeline exposed by erosion

Over 200m of severe bank erosion

Installing a live brush mattress revetment with whole tree toe

Brush Mattress after 8 months growth and after 4 bankfull flood events

River Rhiw in 2017

2017 bed load response is protecting the pipeline

LWD after 12 months

Completed Rootwad bank revetment

Rootwad bank after 4 months

Low Pressure Long Reach Excavators

Completed Revetment

Revetment greening after 3 months

Staking branches and brash into place

Placing felled branches

Logging the tree limbs

Tree felled into scour hole

Using a whole tree to create an engineered log revetment

Salix were awarded the contract and began works to carry out 300 metres of riverbank protection to protect this existing exposed high pressure gas pipe in March 2013.

This was a design and build contract using large woody debris and willow revetments. The project dealt with severe riverbank erosion caused by the powerful tributary of the River Severn.

Salix coppiced 1500 live willow posts, sourced 45 whole trees and made 1000 live willow faggots from tree works in the same catchment as the works.

Date: March 2013 – May 2013

Total Value: £139,000
Tree Works: £59,000

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 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

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

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

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

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