Case Record – Carillion Highway Maintenance at Pegston Hill

Details:

Date: Location: Client: Main Contractor: Contract:

Feb 2003 Pegston Hill The Wildlife Trust Carillion Highway Maintenance £4500 grant towards the provision of fencing and gates and other expenses within the Pegston Nature Reserve

Activity:

The Carillion Natural Habitat fund provides the opportunity for business groups and contracts to support the branch of The Wildlife Trust within the area that they are operating in. The Carillion Highway Maintenance Area 8 contract was approached by the Bedford branch of The Wildlife Trust for support with their program to restore the grasslands around Pegston Hill Bedfordshire

The change from grazing stock to cereal production put the natural grassland around Pegston Hill and the ecosystems it supported under threat from spreading scrub and brush. In 1992 The Wildlife Trust acquired 200 acres of Pegston Hill and set about a program to restore the grassland to help protect a number of species under threat throughout the UK including the Chalkland Yellow Meadow Ants, and Pyramidal Orchids.

Over the past 11 years the trust have slowly cleared shrubs and brush allowing the grassland to recover. This was supported by local farmers providing cattle and sheep for grazing the land. As the numbers of local farms reduced the Trust were forced to purchase their own flock to help maintain the land. A flock of 54 hardy Hebridean Sheep now help manage the land. Part of the donation was used to pay vet fees. The remainder was used to purchase fencing to secure the site and to help with controlling the sheep and to ensure that they are grazing in the required areas. In the 11 years the reserve has seen a steady rise in the number of Chalkland Blue and other threatened species.

The site is open to the public all year round with a number of events for schools and the general public. A number of employees from Carillion Highway Maintenance’s joint venture with WSP in Northampton and Bedfordshire have volunteered to help the Trust to clear scrub and to help with the construction of the fences. At each of the entrances to the site are information boards on which the Carillion Logo is displayed.

Business Benefits:

• Improve customer relations by demonstrating our commitment to environmental improvements.
• Improve community relations by demonstrating the positive impacts Carillion can have within local communities.
• Employee motivation through involvement in supporting the local community.