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Case Study

Case Studies – Celtic Technologies

Client: Celtic Technologies/St Modwen Developments/ Hawk Contracts

Project: Coed Darcy, Llandarcy, South Wales

Services: Ecology services and Japanese Knotweed removal

The Challenge: The site is a former oil refinery of approximately 1,000 hectares and is the largest brown field development of its kind in Europe. Much of the site was left unmanaged for a number of years.

Large tracts of ruderal vegetation had grown across much of the site. This meant a significant risk of protected species occupying the site. Knotweed had spread in several areas of the site.

The knotweed was a mix of fairly recently fly-tipped material that contained dormant rhizomes, and established stands that had grown into underground services, further complicating their removal. 

Our Solution: Phlorum was asked to provide advice on the ecological constraints of the site and supervise the vegetation clearance to ensure that the ecological impact of the development could be kept to a minimum. Previous surveys had identified great crested newts, reptiles, nesting birds, bat roosts and badger setts on the site.

The clearance areas were surveyed by Phlorum. The ecological constraints identified were marked, and buffer zones created to prevent disturbance. All the knotweed found was carefully excavated to ensure no rhizome fragments remained. The knotweed material was transferred to concrete areas on site to be treated by Phlorum over several years.

The material is turned in the storage area to encourage growth and increase the effectiveness of the herbicide. Once the treatments are finished the material will be free of knotweed and can be re-used on the site.

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