Legacy Habitat Management are experienced in grip blocking works to help restore sensitive habitat on the UK's moorlands and uplands.
Our team of experienced staff understand the sensitive nature of moorland environments and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB's) allowing us to ensure a low-impact approach to works of this nature. Working with mapping data, aerial photography and GPS location equipment, we are able to ensure that our works meet the exact requirements of a moorland restoration plan and the potential for the reinstatement of sensitive habitats is achieved.
Legacy Habitat Management have access to a range of equipment, including low-ground pressure vehicles, enabling access and transportation of materials and equipment into remote locations to carry out grip blocking works. We can also arrange for provision of helicopter air-lift transportation if required.
A practice carried out from the 1960's to the early 1980's, 'gripping' or the digging of ditches on the moorlands and uplands of the UK was commonplace. With the aid of grants, this process, supported by agricultural policy of the time, was done in order to drain thousands of acres of moorland, allowing these areas to dry out and support the growth of grassland.
These actions have had a detrimental effect on moorland environments, lowering the water tables, causing erosion and resulting in the loss of habitat that supports sensitive flora species such as sphagnum mosses, bog orchids, sundew and many more.
The damming of these ditches, or grip blocking can help to reverse this decline in moorland habitats and restore natural drainage systems, encouraging the re-growth of native, characteristic vegetation species.
The blocking of grips and gullies can also help to reduce the chance of flash flooding and changes in hydrology downstream. Legacy Habitat Management employ a variety of methods and materials for grip blocking ranging from the use of low-ground pressure excavators to create peat damns, log material air-lifted to site by helicopter or heather, brash, plastic or stone material. We will work closely with you at point of contact to establish the best methods to suit the requirements of the contract.
