Case Study Land Drainage Installation Client: Ferry Inn, Stone-in-Oxney, Kent Background The British pub industry continues to evolve as operators adapt to changing customer expectations and operating conditions. Many businesses are exploring new ways to make the most of their available space, with diversification becoming an increasingly popular way to enhance the customer experience and…
Case Study Trenching for Utilities (Electricity & Water) Client: Gusbourne Vineyard Background Many of FGS Pilcher’s vineyard clients are located in some of the most picturesque parts of Kent, making them ideal settings for alfresco dining, drinking, and large outdoor events. The award-winning Gusbourne Vineyard is no exception, boasting outstanding outdoor facilities and far-reaching views…
Case Study Playground & Access Improvements Creating a safer, more accessible and inclusive space for all users. Overview FGS Pilcher was appointed to support the improvement of Pluckley Recreation Ground, delivering new pathway infrastructure as part of a wider community-led project to upgrade the playground and site accessibility. Following nearly three years of planning and…
Case Study Ornamental Pond Restoration Client: Private client in East Sussex Overview A private client in East Sussex required the restoration of a long-established ornamental garden pond that had become heavily silted, with an ageing liner that had deteriorated and failed in several areas. The pond sits within a carefully maintained landscaped garden containing mature…
Case Study Boys Hall Car Park Upgrade Car Park Upgrade & Surfacing, Ashford, Kent Background Boys Hall is a prestigious restaurant and hotel in Ashford, where presentation, access, and guest experience are paramount. To maintain these standards, an upgrade to the existing car park was required, with works needing to be completed within an extremely…
The Brief Clock House Farm, a valued long-term customer of FGS Pilcher, is a leading fruit farm in Kent committed to sustainable and innovative farming practices. They required a new 20,000m³ reservoir to support their expanding irrigation network. This project followed the successful completion of a previous reservoir two years earlier and is part of…
Brief FGS Pilcher was engaged to deliver enabling works, civils support, and site infrastructure for a nationally significant solar project on the North Kent Peninsula. Spanning over 800 acres, the scheme forms part of the UK’s commitment to clean, large-scale renewable energy. The Challenge The project required delivery within a sensitive coastal landscape, with strict…
Brief FGS Pilcher was engaged by the RSPB to support a sustainable habitat management initiative at one of their reserves. The aim was to improve water retention in scrapes (shallow pools vital for wading birds) by installing an eco-friendly water extraction system powered entirely by solar energy. The project needed to align with the RSPB’s…
Brief The Big Cat Sanctuary required the design and construction of new enclosures to house five African lions rescued from Ukraine. The enclosures needed to provide a secure, enriched environment tailored to the lions’ physical and psychological needs, while meeting high standards of animal welfare and safety. The project also needed to be completed in…
FGS Pilcher, in partnership with Habitat Generation, the South East Rivers Trust, and with financial support from Sainsbury’s, was proud to deliver its latest wetland project at Coldharbour Farm. Project Overview This innovative scheme focuses on sustainable water management and ecological enhancement, utilising nature-based solutions to create a 1900m² wetland feature. The project, which aims to increase…
Brief Kent Wildlife Trust planned to develop a 2-hectare wetland area at Upper Mystole Farm, near Canterbury, with work scheduled from June to October 2024. The project brief included excavating land, managing vegetation, installing drainage systems, and constructing ponds across multiple wetland areas with adherence to precise ecological specifications. The work also required handling materials…
Brief Sussex Wildlife Trust and National Highways joined forces for a ‘Network for Nature’ project to restore the Pevensey Levels into a thriving biodiverse wetland, benefiting people, nature and wildlife. Once one of the UK’s great biodiverse wetlands, the decline at the Pevensey Levels had been driven by water changes, increased extraction, and climate change,…
As part of Heathcote Holdings, FGS Pilcher benefits from having a close working relationship with other companies within the group. In a recent vineyard creation project, ground preparation, soil analysis and more were required which alongside our sister company, FGS Organics, we are able to provide fully in house. This collaboration led to 7.5 acres…
FGS Pilcher has recently been undertaking an exciting agricultural project – the construction of a robotic milking parlour. This project is not only set to improve the traditional milking process but also predicts an increase in milk production. The overarching goal is to streamline operations and improved the welfare of the animals. This project also…
We have recently undertaken a 91-acre wetland creation project for habitat enhancement on a site that is recognised as a special protection area (SPA) & Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Using our excavators and tracked dumpers we undertook works that included the creation of large scrapes, foot drains and bunding. These elements will facilitate…
FGS Pilcher were contracted by the RSPB to undertake an island creation project in Burrowes Pit Dungeness. We created four islands which cover an area of approximately 2500m2, forming some of the biggest islands on the lake. The islands are at a height where they will be accessible to birds in any weather and water…
We have undertaken a natural flood management project within ancient woodland along two tributaries to the river Beult, near Shadoxhurst, Kent. The works involved backfilling overly deepened channels, regrading them to create wider and shallower channels, whilst using trees felled from the site to create silt traps and natural barriers. These works helped to slow…
FGS Pilcher have undertaken a large project for the RSPB at the Seasalter Levels in Whitstable, Kent. We restored a large part of the wetland area within the levels. Over the past few years, the levels have been dry especially during the spring when they should be wet. The grant funded project was part of…
We have been undertaking hole drilling in preparation for new orchard trees to be planted. Using our specialist wide track, low ground pressure excavator we were able to travel up the rows leaving no mess or ruts. Using the auger attachment, we had to drill around 20,000 holes for a new section of apple orchard…
Using our specialist long reach machine, we were able to de-silt the ponds and re-shape them.
Following a fire within the bulky waste bay in 2019, it was recognised that the existing facilities at the site were inadequate. With the assistance of Countrystyle, Buckinghamshire Council required a standalone storage facility to meet EA guidance they have set out.
The fire at Stanford Bridge Farm in November 2019 saw the destruction of three cattle buildings. FGS Pilcher undertook construction work to rebuild the barns to ensure the safe housing of the cattle over winter.
FGS Pilcher have undertaken several recent projects for SE Lane and Partners. This included modernising the farm facilities of the dairy herd.
We were tasked to work with Natural England at the Stodmarsh Nature reserve, an internationally important mixture of reed beds, fens, ditches, wet grassland and open water.
We have been undertaking regular work for the Romney Marsh Area Internal Drainage Board (RMAIDB). Our specialist long reach excavator, with weed cutting bucket, enabled us to reach even the deepest of drainage channels with ease.
Last year we undertook some ditching work using grant money from The Fifth Continent scheme in partnership with the Kent Wildlife Trust. The Fifth Continent Landscape Partnership Scheme seeks to deliver a number of exciting projects based around three key themes to Restore, Rediscover and Reclaim Romney Marsh.
Earlier this year we worked on a project with South East Rivers Trust in partnership with the National Trust. The project involved the restoration of a floodplain meadow.
During Spring 2019 the groundworks and civils team worked on a building project, creating industrial units at Barton Business Park, Canterbury.
One of our latest Civils projects. We worked with Michael and Peter Sargent at S E Lane, Biddenden to convert an existing farm building into a milking parlour and cubicle building. The project, which also involved installing a flushing water system, is now completed and being used by its new residents!
We have been undertaking estate maintenance and boundary maintenance in Bethersden. We used our excavator mounted cut and grab tree saw to undertake controlled high rise, controlled tree management.
