SOCIAL VALUE PROJECT

Providing Pathways to Nature

IMPROVING A WOODLAND AREA FOR USE BY THE COMMUNITY

Carnell worked with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to provide better access to nature in an inner-city location. Collaboration with National Highways’ delivery partners in the Midlands, led to the creation of 200m of paths through Grays Wood Nature Reserve for locals and community groups.

Background to the Project

Our involvement came as a targeted response to the A46 Binley junction improvement scheme, a National Highways major project. Following discussions with Fiona McKenzie, National Highways Route Manager for the A46, we reached out to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT), to see if they had any projects that we could get involved with. The idea being to give back to the local community that had experienced disruption because of the roadworks.

They asked for help with the Sherbourne Valley Project, an initiative designed to reconnect those living in Coventry with the River Sherbourne and the surrounding green spaces, ‘for people, for wildlife, for the future.’

Providing specialist skills

We explained the capabilities that we have as a multi-disciplinary civil engineering specialist. Looking at their portfolio of projects, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust suggested that our skills and resources would be most valuable in improving pathways at one of their sites…

Grays Wood Nature Reserve, located in Lake View Park, Coventry is rich in wildlife, however the trails had been neglected over the years and had become overgrown. Due to its riverside location, it was prone to becoming boggy, especially in winter months. In fact, the local scouts and community groups had stopped using the area due to the state of the footpaths, with access having deteriorated.

There were some bumps in the road...

What on the surface was a fairly routine activity still needed thorough planning, with several challenges having to be overcome to ensure there were no negative safety, health or environmental impacts:

Part of the wood was on the footprint of an abandoned allotment. Through liaison with the country council, dormant asbestos was identified, prohibiting any digging or breaking ground. This meant that we would be unable to put edgings on the pathway.
The only access from the road to the wood, is through the park and over a weight-restricted bridge. This meant a mini-dumper (with a pedestrian marshal), would need to make shuttle-runs with smaller loads of materials.
We hoped to use recycled aggregates, but this couldn’t be used due to the proximity of the river and concerns over the unlikely, yet potential, risk of pollution of the watercourse from any contaminants.
Many of the volunteers would be from an office-based environment without CSCS or manual handling training. We met with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust who took responsibility for these volunteers to ensure they were covered under their risk assessment / method statement and insurance to ensure their safety whilst we completed the work.

Making a Difference

With a plan in place, the scale of the activity became apparent. A fair amount of people would be required over several days! We approached the Midlands Collaborative Community (MCC), a group made up of delivery partners and suppliers working on the National Highways SDF contract – operating and maintaining the strategic road network.

Over 20 people committed to the project from 12 delivery partners across the community, some for several days and a date was agreed with WWT and the council.

Carnell arranged the materials and haulage, providing the skilled labour, and site supervision that the project would require. Volunteers from the highways community and some local residents were to undertake the low-risk activities such as transporting materials in wheelbarrows and general tidying.

An incredible effort saw work completed above what was originally planned and in just three days! In summary, we laid 32 tonnes of stone which covered over 200 metres of durable pathway and a firepit area with a log circle. This was all designed to be in keeping with the surrounding environment. We removed vegetation along the trails to ensure safe access, as well as completing litter picking in the area.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Cultural Heritage and Community Engagement Officer, Charlotte Ridpath, said:

“This new path has improved the access into a local woodland, that was previously unwelcoming and difficult to explore due to the uneven, very muddy paths. Places like Grays Wood can became off limits in the wet weather and yet connection with nature is vital for good health and quality of life.

“The new smoother, wider paths also now open up the woods for people who are unsteady on their feet and are better for wheeled access.

“The clearing is a space that can be used by community groups and provide a wider range of people with the chance to experience the woods close up. The impact the donation of this path will make cannot be underestimated. It will bring freedom and the joy of nature to many people who simply couldn’t have had it before.”

“We’ve had so many very positive comments from the public about the paths as we’ve been out on site, but the best bit was from a lady we met the other week in the woods, in her electric wheelchair. She said: ‘This is the first time I’ve been able to go into Gray’s Wood for 19 years, ever since I’ve had to be in a wheelchair. It is wonderful to be somewhere “wild” and to have a sense of exploration.’ It was a very rewarding moment. She was beaming!”

Caz BaileySVP Project Manager | Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

“We are pleased to have supported Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in this wonderful initiative which will have a meaningful impact on the local community. The collaborative approach between delivery partners has delivered an outcome that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible and has provided a great opportunity to deliver on our social value commitments to National Highways.”

Adrian OuldsBusiness Director | Carnell

“The wildlife trust have fantastic plans for this site which will have huge benefits for the health and wellbeing of the local community and we were only too happy to help in any way we could. Many thanks to the volunteers from National Highways and our partners in the Midlands Collaborative Community who gave up their time and invested their labour in making this beautiful woodland accessible for all.”

Fiona McKenzieRoute Manager | National Highways

Volunteers from the following companies took part in the community effort:

Civil Engineering

Drainage Surveys

Technology & Lighting

Filter Drain Recycling

Safety Barrier & Fencing

SafetyCam Solutions

Bridges & Structures

SOCIAL VALUE PROJECT

Providing Pathways to Nature

Carnell worked with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to provide better access to nature in an inner-city location. Collaboration with National Highways’ delivery partners in the Midlands, led to the creation of 200m of paths through Grays Wood Nature Reserve for locals and community groups.

Background to the Project

Providing specialist skills

There were some bumps in the road...

Making a Difference

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