Peatland Hydrological Restoration Works RSPB Forsinard 2022/23

Tender description

Re-profiling in areas previously furrow blocked with full height dams. Sphagnum moss that has colonised the drains should be removed from the drains before infilling and placed on top of the newly reprofiled surface. Infilling will be achieved by firstly crushing down all dead tree material so that all stems and branches lie in the bottom of the furrows and below the height of the original ground surface (i.e. the section between the ploughthrows). The excavator will then use a bucket to pull stumps, brash and ridge material into furrows and cross-tracking to smooth the surface. Cross-tracking will be achieved by driving a tracked, low-ground-pressure excavator at right angles to the plough-lines to further flatten the topography and any tree material. The aim of this process will be to level the ridged ground that resulted from the ploughing operation during historical conifer plantation. This treatment will be carried out on top of existing furrow blocking.