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Canal & River Trust Nesting Bird Surveys of Brent Canal

“The partnership between RSSI and the Canal & River Trust demonstrates our commitment to ecological preservation whilst meeting our client’s specific challenges. Our innovative approach and the dedicated team ensured the safe completion of the reservoir work without disturbing the nesting birds, reflecting our expertise in delivering environmentally sensitive projects.”

Alex Blundell, Principal Ecologist, RSS Infrastructure

Services Delivered

The Ecology Division of RSSI led a critical project titled “Nesting Bird Surveys of Brent Canal” for the Canal & River Trust, aimed at conducting detailed surveys of nesting birds at Brent Reservoir, London. The project, valued at £10K and spanning from March to June 2024, was initiated to address the Canal & River Trust’s challenge of conducting essential ecological surveys amidst staffing constraints. The surveys were crucial to preventing legal breaches related to the harm of birds during the reservoir’s refill process.

Key Actions

  • RSSI provided an ecologist to conduct weekly nesting bird surveys as the Brent Reservoir was gradually refilled from March to June 2024.
  •  Collaborated with the Kier group for Health & Safety assistance, including a pre-survey site walkout.
  • Implemented a unique solution by providing a trained canoeist to ensure continuous survey efforts as the water level rose.
  • Overcame staffing challenges, particularly during weekends and staff holidays, by having the RSSI ecologist named on the licence, allowing for removing nests if necessary.
brent reservoir drained
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Location

Brent Canal

Project Value

£10k

Division

Ecology

Project Duration

4 Months

Project Delivery

The project’s success hinged on RSSI’s comprehensive approach to ecological surveying, which included on-the-ground support, strategic advice, and frequent liaison with the Canal & River Trust. The ecologist’s role was critical from the outset. They conducted thorough surveys on alternating weekends to monitor the nesting birds’ status as the reservoir’s water level increased. This task required meticulous planning and adaptability, particularly in navigating the logistical challenges of accessing various survey sites as conditions changed.

Including a trained canoeist on the RSSI team was a significant innovation, enabling the continuation of surveys in parts of the reservoir that became inaccessible by land as the refill progressed. This solution demonstrated RSSI’s capability to adapt to evolving project needs and underscored the importance of having specialised skills within the project team to address unforeseen challenges.

The project also highlighted the importance of collaborative partnerships, with RSSI working closely with the Kier group for additional Health and Safety support. This ensured all project activities were conducted with the utmost care for the personnel involved and the wildlife. Furthermore, the decision to offer a significant discount to the Canal & River Trust was a testament to RSSI’s commitment to supporting charitable organisations and fostering long-term relationships with its clients.

Overall, the Nesting Bird Surveys at Brent Canal project demonstrates RSSI’s dedication to ecological preservation and client satisfaction. It delivers comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique challenges of environmental conservation projects.

About Us

RSS Infrastructure (RSSI), based in Birmingham, Cwmbran, Doncaster and Tonbridge, provides infrastructure services for the rail, civil, and utilities sectors. We serve clients like Network Rail, WMCA, HS2 and Tier 1 & 2 contractors. Our services include Arboriculture, Civils and Construction, Geofencing, Industrial Rope Access (IRATA), Magnetic Track Safety, Rail Operations including Possession Management and P/Way, Rail Welding, Signalling, and Track Warning Services.

Projects

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