Land & Water kicks off silt removal work at birthplace of polo

Land & Water has started works at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham after having undertaken investigations into water loss from the club’s ornamental lake.

This prestigious, private member club, which dates back to 1869 and is known to have been the birthplace of polo, is situated within 42 acres of landscaped grounds adjacent to the River Thames and has a 6,000m2 ornamental lake that is home to a wide variety of fish and bird species.

The wet civil engineering firm undertook intrusive and non-intrusive surveys to address the water loss through the bed of the lake and is now starting works which includes dewatering the lower section of the lake by installing a porta dam and then using specialist plant to remove silt and bed material to stockpile on site.

A new bentonite clay liner will then be installed across the bed of the lake with the excavated material being replaced over the liner. This ensures that waste from the project is minimised as part of Land & Water’s environmental commitment which also sees the firm using HVO fuel, which is up to 90+% carbon neutral, in its machinery throughout the works.

Land & Water Project Manager, Tim Stickland, said: “It is great to be part of a project that looks to maintain the grounds of such an iconic piece of British history. The ornamental lake is home to a range of wildlife and is enjoyed by many visitors to the club, making its preservation important for not only biodiversity but its surrounding landscapes too.”

“As always, Land & Water is committed towards safeguarding the local wildlife and so all fish and birds will be relocated to safety during the works.”