There are sometimes projects that it’s simply a privilege to be involved with and the restoration of the Otter Estuary in Budleigh Salterton is one. Kelston Sparkes was appointed by construction giant, Kier, as the preferred contractor to work on the ecologically sensitive scheme after successfully concluding projects such as Cannington Bends Flood Defence, Steart Marshes Nature Reserve in Somerset and the Exeter Flood Defence project.
The Environment Agency scheme at Budleigh Salterton, which is partly EU funded, aims to restore the estuary to natural floodplains in a bid to manage the effects of rising sea levels and to reintroduce the intertidal habitats for migratory birds. The project will create 136 acres of intertidal mudflats, saltmarsh and estuarine habitats for wildlife by connecting the river Otter to its historic floodplain via a network of creeks which will bring salt water in land.
Kier Construction, the main contractor on the project, appointed Kelston Sparkes to undertake the groundworks on the 3-year project, which included raising a road above the flood level, creating pathways for visitors, relocating a bridge and a cricket club, which has suffered multiple flooding closures, as well as excavating the inland creeks.
The low-lying site has particularly soft ground conditions and is located in a natural flood zone which meant that the ground and tidal waters had to be carefully managed before undertaking cut and fills. A geotextile grid was laid to stabilise the ground and Kelston Sparkes also invested in a Bell B20E ADT with low flotation tyres to ensure the lowest ground bearing pressure and minimal damage to the terrain.
Sam Baker is the Site Manager for Kelston Sparkes on this project. As one of the leading groundworks experts for environmental works, Sam has worked for Kelston Sparkes for 18 years and has developed exceptional relationships with the Environment Agency; leading 8 projects in 5 years including flood defence and wetlands throughout Southern England. His team created the haul road network reusing every bit of excavated material. The top soil was distributed throughout the site to create the haul road network, whilst the remaining material was recompacted and used to landscape the islands. The creeks were completed at the very earliest stages of the project and have since filled with seawater as intended; attracting native plants and species. The raised road that carries the public over the newly formed wetland habitat has been completed and this included the specialist task of placing rip rap under the bridge to eliminate bridge scouring. David Swann, Commercial Director of Kelston Sparkes, has high praise for the team involved;
“The purpose of this particular project is to work with nature to achieve a more sustainable way of managing the otter estuary and its surroundings. It will help to mitigate the flood risk ensuring local homes and businesses are protected and will also provide habitat for important bird species. Kelston Sparkes has a team of skilled operators that can complete jobs, such as rip rap, that only a few companies can offer and in Sam we have a Site Manager who is highly experienced in environmental and ecological projects such as the Steatpoint Peninsula and Congresbury Yeo which were both complex, but successful projects.”
The team was assembled rapidly in Autumn of 2021 as the Environment Agency needed to demonstrate the start of the work to secure funding from the EU prior to the final Brexit agreement. Thanks to the hot, dry weather a huge amount of progress was made on the creek network and the haul roads in what would normally be considered out of season. This gave the project a great head start and the team has recently placed imported materials on the footpaths as one of the final jobs to make the site ready for the public.
On completion the Otter Estuary at Budleigh Salterton will be even more stunning than before.
