01722 716361
Balston Agius Landscape Architects, Berkshire
Lake construction and landscaping works
MJ Abbott was requested by Balston Agius, renowned landscape architects with offices in Wiltshire and London, to submit a quotation for the extension of an existing lake at a private residence near Reading.
The project included the major cut and fill earthworks associated in extending the existing lake and the ‘sympathetic’ spreading and shaping of the excavated spoil to ensure the material placed in the remainder of the field looked natural with flowing contours and subtle movements.
The works also included the cleaning out and desilting of a Victorian concrete-lined swimming pool, and the installation of new drainage to the surrounding land with inlet and outlet chambers to the lake.
The scope of works included:
- Rotovation and stripping of clod and topsoil from 65,500m² working area and storage for re-use on the surrounding area.
- Cut and fill earthworks including movement of over 30,000 tonnes of subsoil to extend the lake from 4,000m² to 10,000m².
- Shaping and grading of fill material to 55,500m² surrounding area, creation of lake island and planting shelf to lake perimeter and puddling of the lake base.
- Draining down and desilting of clay-lined and concrete-lined Victorian swimming pools which included a new overflow chamber and pipe linking the Victorian swimming pool to the main lake.
- Renovation and repair of the Victorian swimming pool area including the installation of an Opepe hardwood timber walkway between the clay and concrete lined pools complete with 4m x 4m contemplation area and an Opepe timber lined perimeter to repair the damaged top section of the wall.
- Installation of a 5m x 1.8m Opepe hardwood jetty and a 4m x 4m Opepe hardwood jetty for use in front of a future boathouse.
- Final trimming and installation of drainage to the working areas.
- Re-soiling and seeding of the working areas.
- Additional works included the installation of a petrol interceptor to filter out surface run-off from parking areas prior to discharging into the lake.
