The Paddock Nature Reserve is an 8-acre triangular greenspace located in Tottenham Hale. The site is made up of a diverse mix of habitats including woodland, scrub, meadow, two small wildlife ponds as well as the river and its surrounding margins. The Paddock was historically comprised of common land, which supplied grain to the nearby Tottenham Mill until the 19th Century. After World War I, the land was converted into sports grounds, before being abandoned in 1970.
The site had a substantial issue with invasive species Japanese knotweed, posing a serious risk to local habitats and wildlife. Haringey Council required a way to clear the knotweed and transform the underused site into a thriving Local Nature Reserve, utilising the areas rich and unique ecology, and creating a legacy park users can be proud of.
At the point of initial survey, 42 well established Japanese knotweed stands were identified on site, covering 2496m2. Ebsford had to overcome numerous challenges throughout the project including the discovery of asbestos. The presence of this material rules out the possibility of screening, and the management plan recommended that all soil on site should remain in situ, with 29 of the knotweed stands being excavated and relocated to a burial cell, and the remaining stands treated with herbicides.
A UXO risk assessment was carried out to gain an account of the history of the site pre and post-World War II and an UXO specialist was enlisted to supervise the excavation. A large amount of rubbish was also uncovered during the creation of the burial pit, resulting in a daily rubbish pick being implemented on the burial cell.
Following ecological recommendations, chipping works were carried out, allowing the clearance team to search for any hibernating reptiles/hedgehogs, and 4 wagons of woodchip were removed from site, totalling circa 360m3 of material to be reused as biomass.
A 14-ton excavator was utilised to scrape aboveground vegetation in the burial zone. The removed vegetation was then relocated to the boundary of the existing tree line, reducing the amount of material produced for off-site disposal, lowering costs to the client, and generating a new environment for local species. The membrane was then heat sealed shut and a layer of recycled topsoil was placed and tracked in, creating a 2m deep cover above burial cell bund.
Ebsford also carried out the development of wet woodland/ ponds where Japanese knotweed stands were excavated, creating additional habitats to support the rich biodiversity found at The Paddock.
At the final stage, wildflower seeds were planted to create a nationally rare wildflower meadow. The conservation of native biodiversity has been at the heart of this job, and we feel honored to play a role in a project solely focused on creating an environment in which people and nature can thrive.
