With the boundary wall work continuing, here are a some answers to a few queries we've received regarding the work. Thank you for caring about your local RSPB nature reserve.
What has happened to the wall?
The wall is made up of low quality brick and is approximately 3ft high. It is steadily deteriorating and parts of it are leaning outwards. It has been damaged by salt spray from the road, tree roots, and has been damaged by vehicle impacts. A section of the wall was replaced in 2006. Engineering surveys showed that the remaining, deteriorating sections of wall needed replacing or removing as they are at the end of their useful lifespan.
Where is the wall?
The brick wall marks part of the boundary of the reserve, running E-W along a section of the B1042 Potton Road for 800m between the RSPB entrance at the gatehouse and the lower RSPB entrance at the bottom of the hill. The wall is highly visible from the road. About 380m of wall is in good condition and will be retained; another 330m is dilapidated; the rest is missing presumed removed.
What will the RSPB do to fix the issue?
The RSPB commissioned engineering contractors to come up with solutions to the problem, and the most sustainable option was to remove the deteriorated parts of the wall and reduce the gradient of the slope behind it, so that the foot of the slope starts at pavement level and ascends at a safe profile. This will mirror the approach taken on the opposite side of the road where there is no wall.
The bricks themselves have been eroding due to the salt spray from the road and have become impossible to repair. An option to replace parts of the wall with a new wall built from engineering bricks was considered, but that would have looked very different, and would have been more expensive than removing it and re-profiling the bank. The re-profiling option is far more sustainable, as by replacing this with fencing there will be no retaining wall requiring future maintenance.
Planning permissions were fully discharged by Central Beds Council for the works.
Will there be restricted public access during the repair work?
During the engineering works, the footpath along the side of the road will be re-routed through The Lodge Nature Reserve. The RSPB will also be closing the cycle way from the bottom of the hill to the gatehouse, to provide access to the rear of the wall and to the habitat creation areas. There will be a temporary diversion in place for all visitors and staff.
What is happening to the road (B1042) and access during the work?
One lane will be closed in 50 metre sections moving along the works throughout September, for safety reasons while the contractors work in this location.
How about any bats and badgers?
Surveys have been carried out while planning the works to ensure that no bats, birds or badgers will be affected. A very old badger hole in the area was checked using night cameras and no activity was seen in the area.
What will the RSPB do with the extra soil?
Much of the heathland creation area within The Lodge nature reserve is level ground, with moderate nutrient levels, and it is increasingly well-covered with vegetation. Key heathland invertebrate species such as solitary wasps and mining bees benefit from bare, nutrient poor sandy ground, especially that which slopes towards the south. The subsoil behind the wall is sandy, with low nutrient levels, so relocating this into low, sinuous, sandy banks on the heathland will have a positive biodiversity value.
Images of the work progressing. Peter Bradley.