Projects that shape
the countryside.

We carried out large scale scrub removal along the edge of a mere, restoring valuable wetland habitat while carefully protecting the surrounding environment. By using an wide tracked excavator fitted with a tiltrotator, we were able to reach and process vegetation from a single position, significantly reducing the amount of tracking and machine movement across the site. This approach minimised ground disturbance, improved efficiency and allowed the work to be completed with precision in a sensitive waterside environment.

An overgrown seasonal pool was restored through the selective removal of marginal trees and encroaching willow scrub, reopening the waterbody and increasing light levels to encourage the recovery of wetland habitats. Careful vegetation management improved the ecological value of the pool while retaining key habitat features, creating a more diverse environment for aquatic plants, amphibians and other wetland wildlife.

RTS Countryside designed and constructed a new reed bed complete with a purpose built maintenance access track, providing long term access for future inspection and management. Working carefully within a sensitive environment, the project combined specialist machinery with precise groundworks to create a durable, functional habitat that supports biodiversity while ensuring safe and practical access for ongoing maintenance.

Oak timber sourced from a local estate was milled on site using our mobile sawmill to produce bespoke waney edge boards and structural timber for the expansion and refurbishment of a high end furniture manufacturer's own premises. By processing the timber close to its source, the client was able to make use of locally grown softwood with complete traceability, creating distinctive, characterful timber while reducing transport and unnecessary waste.

Working alongside another contractor, RTS provided specialist machine and operator hire to support the routine thinning and removal of dead, dying and diseased trees across a woodland site. Arisings were processed on site using a whole tree chipper, converting low grade timber and brash into biomass woodchip for renewable energy generation. Processing material on site improved productivity, reduced transport requirements and ensured that every part of the harvested timber was put to beneficial use, supporting a sustainable, zero waste approach to woodland management.

Working within a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 7 metre plastic foundation piles were installed through deep peat into the underlying mineral soils to support the construction of a new public viewing platform. The work was carried out using a 13 tonne excavator operating from extra wide bog mats, significantly reducing ground pressure, preventing machine sinkage and minimising disturbance to the sensitive peatland. This specialist approach enabled heavy construction work to be completed safely while protecting the integrity of this nationally important habitat.

Several hundred tonnes of ash timber were safely removed from a National Nature Reserve following widespread infection with ash dieback (Chalara). The project focused on hazardous trackside trees posing a significant risk to members of the public using the reserve's access routes. Careful planning, specialist machinery and efficient timber extraction enabled the work to be completed safely while protecting the surrounding environment, restoring safe public access and supporting the long term management of the woodland.

A new reed bed system was created to improve water quality through the diversion of an existing ditch into a series of carefully designed treatment features. The scheme incorporated a settlement pool followed by staggered reed beds separated by plastic sheet piling dams, slowing water flow and increasing natural filtration before discharge downstream. Once construction was complete, the reed beds were planted with native reeds and a range of wetland plant species to establish a diverse habitat and maximise the system's long term water treatment performance and ecological value.

Encroaching scrub was removed from the perimeter of a raised peat bog designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), helping to maintain the open conditions essential for this nationally important habitat. Tree felling was carried out entirely on foot, with an excavator operating from extra wide bog mats exerting less than 3 psi of ground pressure. This low impact approach virtually eliminated ground disturbance, leaving no lasting marks on the peat surface while allowing vegetation to be removed safely and efficiently. Rather than removing the arisings from site, all scrub and felled timber were retained and used to create hibernacula along the edge of the bog, providing valuable refuge for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates while enhancing the site's biodiversity.

A series of sleeper bridges and ditch crossings were constructed and maintained across a National Nature Reserve to provide safe, reliable access for on site staff working within the peat bog. Materials were transported using a low ground pressure tracked dumper, significantly reducing ground disturbance while allowing access across sensitive terrain. Designed to withstand regular use with minimal environmental impact, the bridges improved year round access for conservation, monitoring and land management activities, ensuring essential maintenance could continue across this internationally important landscape.