If you are
wondering exactly what land reclamation and restoration is, the experts at
Graham Churchill Plant Ltd are here to answer some of your questions and help
you get clued up on the topic. Whether you’re interested in how land
reclamation is being used around the world or you require land restoration
services for your own project, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more!
What is land reclamation?
To put it
simply, land reclamation is the process of creating new land from sites such as
the sea, lakes and riverbeds. Land reclamation usually takes place in coastal
areas, with projects varying from small local extensions of quays and beths to
the creation of offshore islands. Usually, new land is created through a
natural process which involves areas (such as lakes or riverbeds) filling with
dirt or sand. Land reclamation uses this exact same process, however, it is
sped up and new land is created intentionally. Land reclamation services can go
hand in hand with land restoration, which is the process of raising and
transforming land, usually for agriculture, housing or industry.
The benefits of land reclamation
There are
many advantages of land reclamation. Large areas of damaged land can adversely
affect populations - for example, living in an area where there is lots of
damaged land can bring down the financial value of the properties there.
Damaged land and eyesores can drastically reduce the quality of life for the
people living there, creating unpleasant environments and undesirable areas.
Land reclamation
can restore the land to its former glory. In addition to creating extra land
and improving the quality of the land, land reclamation can improve the quality
of air as well as prevent harmful rodents and pests from breeding in the
environment.
Furthermore,
when an area of land is damaged due to a spill, the water supply is taken away.
Restoring the land will reverse any contamination of the area’s water supply
and restore the quality of water, supporting all different life forms.
Examples of land reclamation around the world
All across
the world, cities and coastlines are edging into the ocean and land is becoming
damaged. Many countries across the globe are taking the steps to ‘take back’
land from the sea to expand their territory and coastlines. Below, we take a
look at a few examples of this.
Netherlands
Holland has
been sinking since the Middle Ages. Around one third of the Netherlands lies
below sea level, with the lowest point being 22 feet below sea level. If it
wasn’t for the extensive system of dykes, sand dunes and pumps along the coast
that are currently in place, the country would be completely under water by
now.
The Dutch
have a long history of the reclamation of marshes and fenland to house its
ever-growing population; in fact, by 1961 alone, around half of the country’s
land was reclaimed from the sea using polders. This is a method in which an
area is surrounded by a dyke and pumped dry to reclaim the land.
Singapore
Singapore
has been using land reclamation to expand the city-state’s limited area of
natural usable land for years. Over the past 50 years, Singapore has added a
staggering 22% onto its size. Using sand, rock and earth quarried elsewhere, they have
built out into the surrounding waters, allowing for increased development and
urbanisation in areas that were traditionally limited by the ocean’s reach.
Dubai
In Dubai,
land reclamation has made it one of the most recognisable places in the world,
with the most well known projects being the Palm Islands, the World Islands,
the Dubai Marina and the Burj Al Arab. In Dubai, the process of land
reclamation involves dredging sand from the Persian and Arabian Gulf’s floors
to create the islands.
Why might I need land restoration services?
In the same
field as land reclamation, land restoration includes the process of cleaning up
and rehabilitating a site that has suffered environmental degradation.
Environmental degradation can be caused by a number of different factors, such
as natural causes and those caused by human activity. The aim is to restore
sites to a condition where they can be utilised for a new purpose - whether
that’s ecological, commercial or residential.
Professional
land reclamation experts can transform derelict and unused land into a usable
asset. Of course, this will depend on the lifespan, location and end use of the
land that is being restored, along with the requirements of the local community.
Sites that are restored typically include quarries, landfill sites and land
that has been previously used for industrial operations, otherwise known as
brownfield sites.
So, what
does the restoration process include? Restoration typically involves the
infilling of sites in a monitored and measured process. To ensure that the site
is suitable for its intended end use, several methods and instruments are used
throughout the process, including piezometers to assess pore water pressures,
rod settlement gauges and magnetic extensometers - all of which monitor the
settlement of the fills as they are loaded.
Disused
quarries, waste ground and poor agricultural land can be raised and transformed
for a number of different uses, including good agricultural land, ecological
wetlands, golf courses, noise bunds for shooting clubs and more.
Using a reliable waste management company
If you are
restoring some land, you’re likely going to need to source the services of a
reliable waste management company too. Often, landscape restoration projects
also require the removal of potentially hazardous waste - from contaminated and
polluted soil to other hazardous materials on the site. Such materials will
need to be disposed of correctly and safely, and it is extremely important that
you choose a reliable waste management company to dispose of this waste for
you.
Waste management
experts will be highly trained and know how to handle all kinds of waste,
including hazardous materials, and will ensure that it is taken to the
appropriate waste disposal landfill site. In addition, this will need to be
done in line with the necessary regulations, safety procedures and
environmental protection measures.
Graham Churchill Plant Ltd: waste management,
land reclamation and plant hire
Based in
Silverstone near Northampton, Graham Churchill Plant Ltd offers a range of
waste management services to both domestic and commercial clients. From land
reclamation and skip hire to plant hire, we are proud to offer our sought-after
services throughout Beds, Bucks, Oxon and Northants.
If you are
looking for a reliable company to transform unused land into an asset, our team
of experienced and qualified experts are equipped with the skills and knowledge
to restore land to its former glory. In addition, we also offer comprehensive
waste management services, including solid waste management and commercial
waste collection.
Our sister
companies Churchill Waste Management Ltd and Croughton Renewable Resources
Centre Ltd operate at separate facilities to ensure that all types of waste are
managed in a safe, environmentally friendly and legal way.
Whether you’re looking for a reliable company to
dispose of your waste or hire excavators, lorries and tippers from, we’ve got
you covered. For more information about our services, including recycled
aggregates, or to find out more about how we can help you, simply
visit our website
or
get in touch
with us today.
