Image showing works carried out on Blenheim Palace pool vegetation clearance

Blenheim Palace – Queen’s Pool Vegetation Clearance

Client Blenheim Palace

Location Oxfordshire

Value £75,000

As part of the main contract to remove 300,000m³ of material for the Queen’s Pool at Blenheim Palace, extensive reed and vegetation clearance was carried out.

Silt and vegetation had accumulated at the northern end of the lake where it feeds directly into the river Glyme forming a headland within the lake. This whole area was heavily vegetated with reed and Willow and had to be removed completely. Japanese Knotweed was also found to be present in one location and was cut and dealt with in accordance with licence, Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) and Ecological Assessment guidelines.

All works were done under strict Ecological Appraisal guidelines and supervised by the Client appointed Ecologists on site as the site is registered as a World Heritage Site, SSSI and Queen’s Pool being listed as a Habitat of Principal Importance (HPI). Ecological walk overs were conducted each day prior to work commencement in order to make sure no wildlife was endangered.

Land + Water undertook the works using its specialist amphibious WK90 excavator with mounted flail attachment. This low-ground pressure excavator working alongside Truxor machines all from our own internal fleet was ideal for this wetland location within the lake perimeters. Our Roboflail was also employed to vegetation at the lake edges.

Willow was cut by floating Truxor with cutter attachment and collected by a second Truxor with basket for placing along the shoreline. Later it was flailed to rot down in agreed locations. Reeds were cut. Reeds were cut prior to the start of the bird nesting season of March using Truxor and dug out using the amphibious machine.