Green-tech Ltd

Green-tech help to reduce the risk of flooding in Leeds City

Completed: 01/03/2024
Location: Leeds

Project - Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2
Location - Leeds, West Yorkshire
Client - Leeds City Council
Contractor - BMMjv (BAM Nuttall/Mott MacDonald Joint Venture) Landscape Architect
Product/Services Supplied - Coir Edge Sods, Coir log rolls, rock rolls

Leeds City Council is working with the Environment Agency on their Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 (FAS2) to reduce the risk of flooding of a 14km stretch between Leeds Train Station and Apperley Bridge.

The project is designed to protect 1,048 homes and 474 businesses through a combination of traditional engineering methods and natural flood management. Due for completion in Spring 2024, it is expected that the flood risk will be reduced to a 0.5% probability of occurring in any given year (a 1-in-200-year level of flood protection).

BAM Nuttall is a construction and civil engineering company that delivers key pieces of infrastructure across the UK, from railways to wind farms. They use digital engineering and a net zero carbon approach, placing sustainability at their core.

Part of the scheme included work on the bank of the river Aire upstream of Kirkstall Bridge using an earth embankment or steel sheet piled flood walls in some areas. The embankment will tie into flood walls, that will extend up to the existing Kirkstall Bridge. This section of railway line connects Leeds with Shipley and Bradford and has flooded several times in the past, and currently remains at risk.

Alongside the embankment and flood walls, 2.4 hectares of landscape and ecological enhancements are being implemented in Kirkstall Meadows. This work includes the creation of wetland scrapes and various interventions to support local wildlife.

The project was subject to planning conditions that required reinstatement or protection of vegetated features along the riverbank where the construction of hard flood defences would otherwise have compromised the permanent river-side ecology.

Sub-agent Jim Mitchell, comments, “Green-tech was chosen as the products they offered were designed exactly for this purpose. They were able to supply products that complied with the project specification and offered expert advice on alternative solutions that improved buildability and function’.

For this part of the project, Green-tech supplied 45 pre-established Coir Edge Sods which comprise 5 different aquatic plant species mixes. This unique system incorporates pre-established vegetation within the face of stone-filled gabions which is an integral part of the erosion control solution for a water’s edge, even where the projects require hard engineering solutions. This innovative, green erosion control system helps when the stability of engineering with gabions is combined with the benefits of immediate vegetation to provide rapid environmental and ecological regeneration.

20 gt Coir Log Rolls were supplied. These are cost-effective and an excellent technique for establishing marginal vegetation around lake edges, streams, and river banks. Compressed coir fibre encased in woven polyethylene or coir netting, gt Coir Log Rolls can be supplied pre-established with UK native species or unplanted.

These were accompanied by 20 gt Rock Rolls - designed to help reduce and prevent long-term erosion and allow for the ground to stay stabilised. Commonly used around watercourse shorelines, high-flow riverbanks, and streams, gt Rock Rolls are UV-stabilised polypropylene mesh filled with gabion stones. They are ideal for creating a solid foundation for installing pre-vegetated coir products - the roots of the emergent plants grow into the voids of the rock rolls, giving long-term erosion control and bank support. Gt Rock Rolls installed below coir units can also be used to support a filter fabric or biodegradable matting.

Turning Grey to Green: Green-tech provide the products for children to play and learn in newly created green spaces.

Completed: 31/08/2023
Location: Wales

Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn (YFD) is a primary school in Llandudno, Wales that is working hard to offer its young pupils a green space in which to play and learn.

In partnership with Conwy Borough County Council and Wild Elements, a not-for-profit social enterprise, the school wanted to create green spaces for the children of YFD to immerse themselves in natural materials and greenery. The site was selected due to its severely grey infrastructure and lack of green space.

Wild Elements is dedicated to getting people in North Wales outdoors and connecting them to nature, improving their lives, opportunities, and aspirations.

The school received a recommendation from another Local Nature Partnership Coordinator in Cardiff and after seeing the successes of their project they felt it was the best way forward to source the green infrastructure for the school site. Gareth Lloyd – head teacher of YFD comments “we felt the products offered by Green-tech were one of the few that we were satisfied to have green infrastructure installed on a Centre Based Child Care education estate.”

Green-tech supplied everything but the trees for this project which included 45 Hedera Helix Woerner Living Ivy Green Screens and 45 bespoke Planters in 3 different colours.

The living Green Screens provide instant and effective screening and are perfect for projects where an instant privacy green fence is required. They provide rigid, secure and evergreen barriers which are low maintenance and easy to install. As well as being much more attractive than traditional fencing, they are an environmentally conscious choice that support an array of wildlife and help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to provide cleaner air.

To ensure the green screens stay hydrated a Mona irrigation watering system was supplied for each screen. The Mona System is a 100% water efficient, subterranean plant irrigation system and provides cost effective tree and planter irrigation.  The system acts as a reservoir to hold water and distribute to the plant's roots as and when required to ensure they remain healthy and grow.

Gareth continues, “Following the success of the Cardiff project under the same Welsh Government grant, we hoped to replicate the work as it was a big hit with the Cardiff primary school children. One of the main concerns raised in the projects infancy was the lack of shade in the school. During the warmer months, it can become overwhelmingly hot for the children. We intended for the Ivy Screens to provide an adequate source of natural material shading for the children. We also wanted the Ivy Screens to be a space for the children to play, hide and immerse themselves in their games. It has made a huge impact to the children's well-being and is greatly appreciated.”

Green-tech supplied 12 bespoke planters for trees in 3 different colours and 12 containerised anchor systems to secure each tree discreetly without impacting on the overall design. In addition, 16 bulk bags of Green-tree topsoil which is manufactured using organic compost and overburdened sand from quarries and perfect for projects focused on environmental sustainability and green credentials, was supplied.

There was a lot of products to be delivered and it was important that the delivery schedule met the needs of the school, without interrupting them, as well as Wild Elements installation plan. “It was logistically impressive!” comments head teacher Gareth Lloyd.” “Thanks for sorting the delivery to run so smoothly, one wagon in, the next one to follow”, Tom from Wild Elements adds.

Julieanne Quinlan, Local Nature Partnership Coordinator for Conwy adds, “the experience with Green-tech has been a wonderful one. James, their Sales Advisor, has been incredibly helpful and patient throughout the entirety of the project. We cannot thank Green-tech enough for making this project come to fruition. It has been a big hit with the school and the children, and we have great hopes for the future pupils of Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn. Diolch yn fawr (thank you very much).

Green-tech supplies tree-planting materials to create a canine-friendly 30-acre woodland.

Completed: 01/06/2023
Location: Co Armagh

IndiWoods Ltd woodland consultancy is based in Co Armagh and works with farmers and landowners throughout Northern Ireland to encourage native woodland planting.

Owned and managed by Carolyn Trimble who has over 20 years of experience in creating native woodland, throughout Northern England and Northern Ireland. Carolyn and her team are proud to have planted over 2 million native trees thus far.

In 2022, IndiWoods woodland consultancy created an amazing woodland planted on the outskirts of Banbridge, Co Down. It comprised 12ha of agricultural land which was planted as a native woodland known as Beechgrove Doggy Wood, to extend and enhance the hugely successful Doggy Fun Park next door. Beechgrove Woods features activity trails amongst the trees for dogs to enjoy.

A long-standing customer of Green-tech since 2006, IndiWoods purchased circa 22,000 Tubex Easywrap Tree Shelters and canes to protect the newly planted trees from rabbits and hares. The Easywrap tree shelter is a polypropylene tree wrap that can be recycled once it has served its purpose. They are designed for plants where lateral growth is important low down. As the tree grows, the Tubex Easywrap expands and opens, allowing the branches to grow sidewards.  It retains moisture and heat around the plant and protects it from small animals, as well as chemical sprays, to improve survival rates.

Beechgrove Doggy Wood has been created on 30 acres and has woodland trails and endless areas to explore, it provides dog lovers with the opportunity to sponsor a tree for life and dedicate it to their pet.

Carolyn comments, “I am passionate about encouraging native woodland planting throughout Northern Ireland and have worked with Green-tech for almost two decades to fulfill my requirements for tree planting and protection materials. Their customer service is excellent, and they always deliver what I need, when I need it, so I would happily recommend them. The owners of Beechgrove Doggy Wood are delighted with their woodland, and I loved being involved in it. We used native species to help strengthen and diversify the local ecosystem and I am thrilled with how well it has been received.”

Harton Quay, South Tyneside

Completed: 29/01/2015
Location: South Shields, Tyne & Wear

The 2.8 million waterfront park development of Harton Quay aims to become a flagship destination for locals and visitors to South Tyneside. The park is designed to meet the needs of all ages and abilities, with accessible cycle and footpaths and a respectful acknowledgement of the history associated with this particular area. The Green-tree Topsoil was utilised specifically for the landscape works that formed the park area. Green tree Topsoil was required for this type of installation as the high fertility composition of the topsoil ensured quick establishment for the turfed and seeded areas of the park. The topsoil is manufactured from recycled green compost and natural sands offering exceptional sustainability credentials for the project overall. Plus, by conforming to British Standards, Green-tree topsoil guaranteed that every load delivered maintained the same high levels of fertility, friability and consistency, another reason for choosing Green-tech.