In the Spring of 2015 Aquascience were engaged by Blenheim House Construction to install and landscape a 0.76 acre bentonite lined lake as part of the redevelopment of an old farm house and outbuildings complex in Surrey.
The project commenced in March 2015 and ran for 10 weeks. The initial ground works required that over 3500m3 of materials were excavated and moved to provide a perfectly compacted sub-base, ready to receive a suitable impervious liner.
Constructed on a slope, the clay sub soil type lended itself well to the cut and fill methodology and ultimately to the installation of a bentonite waterproof barrier. The preferred material in this instance was Bentomat, a membrane installed with a high degree of precision by our experienced site team.
Under the watchful eye of a structural engineer and surveyor the lake was formed, level key trenches were cut, and the new embankment was compacted with a deep vibration roller. Working under CDM regulations with Blenheim House Construction as the principle contractor, Aquascience delivered the project on time and on budget.
Once fully constructed with the liner installed to the manufacturers’ specification the eagerly awaited lake filling commenced. Daphnia water fleas were introduced to mitigate the potential of algal blooms.
After being completed with a matrix of appropriate marginal plants, the lake offers a stunning new view from the house and an aesthetic landscaped alternative to the hill top grassland. The new lake has provided an array of diverse new habitat attracting a wider range of wildlife to the area.
