As part of our works at St. Helen’s on the Isle of Wight on behalf of Southern Water, our team has placed environmental protection at the heart of our delivery. A veteran oak tree (T31) sits within the works area and protecting it has required careful planning and collaboration with the Council’s arboriculture officer and Southern Water’s arboriculture specialist.

Once the extent of exclusion zone was verified, our team immediately worked with specialists to agree mitigation measures to protect and restore the area.

Key actions included the design and installation of a bespoke trackway to prevent root damage, and the establishment of a clearly defined exclusion zone to keep heavy vehicles away from sensitive ground. Ground protection measures were developed using combined civils and arboricultural expertise, extending 18.3m from the trunk, and designed to distribute vehicle loads and prevent soil compaction in line with specialist guidance

This proactive approach ensures the project progresses while safeguarding an important part of the local environment for future generations.