The Brief

FGS Pilcher was appointed to deliver a 91-acre wetland creation project at Graveney, Kent, forming part of the Landscape and Biodiversity Management Plan for the nationally significant Cleve Hill Solar Park development.

Located within a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the project was designed to create and restore freshwater grazing marsh habitats that would improve water retention, enhance biodiversity and provide high-quality feeding and breeding areas for protected wildlife.

Working alongside environmental specialists and in accordance with Natural England requirements, the scheme aimed to create long-term habitat enhancements that complement the surrounding landscape while supporting wintering birds, breeding waders and other priority species.

The Challenge 

Freshwater grazing marsh is one of the UK’s most important wetland habitats, supporting internationally significant populations of birds, mammals, invertebrates and aquatic plants. However, maintaining suitable water levels across these landscapes is essential if they are to function effectively.

The challenge was to undertake significant earthworks within a highly sensitive ecological environment, creating new wetland features that would retain surface water while carefully protecting the existing landscape and ecological designations.

With works taking place on land protected as both an SPA and SSSI, every stage of construction required careful planning, precise execution and close collaboration with the wider project team.

The Solution

Using specialist earthmoving equipment, including excavators and tracked dumpers, FGS Pilcher constructed a series of carefully designed wetland features across the 91-acre site.

The works included:
• Creation of large wildlife scrapes
• Construction of foot drains
• Formation of earth bunds
• Ground modelling to retain and manage water naturally
• Earthworks to facilitate the re-wetting of permanent grassland

These habitat features have been designed to capture and hold water within the grazing marsh, creating the shallow wet conditions required by breeding and wintering birds while increasing habitat diversity across the site.

By restoring natural hydrology, the scheme provides long-term ecological benefits and forms an important part of the wider landscape-scale biodiversity strategy for the Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The Outcome

The completed wetland enhancement scheme has transformed 91 acres of grassland into a richer, more resilient freshwater habitat capable of supporting a wide range of protected and priority species.

The newly created scrapes, drains and bunds will help retain water across the site, creating ideal conditions for:
• Breeding and wintering wildfowl
• Wading birds
• Water voles
• Rare wetland invertebrates
• Aquatic and marginal plant species

As part of the Cleve Hill Solar Park’s long-term Landscape and Biodiversity Management Plan, the habitat will continue to be monitored and managed to ensure it delivers lasting ecological value for decades to come.

The project demonstrates FGS Pilcher’s expertise in delivering complex habitat creation schemes within environmentally sensitive landscapes, combining specialist plant, experienced operators and practical knowledge to help create resilient landscapes that  support both biodiversity and sustainable infrastructure.

Visit our Environmental Habitat Maintenance page to view the video of this project.