Clearing overgrown railway sidings requires efficiency, precision, and environmental responsibility, and at PB Forestry, we combine expertise with innovative solutions to handle complex vegetation clearance and grounds maintenance projects. Read our case study to find out how we were employed by a major building products manufacturer to clear a series of disused railway sidings and adjacent land to enable a project to reinstate rail access to the site.
A major building products manufacturer needed to clear disused railway lines and adjacent land to reinstate rail access. Due to the site’s extensive vegetation, it needed to be cleared quickly without interfering with adjacent infrastructure. Additionally, the use of heavy machinery was restricted in several areas due to the soft ground. The possible existence of protected species also required an ecologically conscious approach.
To effectively clear the site, PB Forestry used a wide range of power tools and specialist equipment. 1.5 hectares were smoothly cleared by large-scale forestry equipment, but low-impact techniques were needed in soft-ground areas. By replacing conventional hand tools with a mini-digger equipped with a mulching head and tree shear, ground pressure was decreased and ecological regulations were followed. An impact driver and additional handheld equipment allowed for controlled cutting for accurate vegetation removal close to railroad lines without causing damage to buildings nearby.
The clearance of 2 hectares of land reduced CO2 emissions and heavy lorry traffic.