Wakehurst Place Bethlehem Woods

Laying paths in Bethlehem Wood
Graham Construction
£400,000
Sussex
Jan 2018
May 2018

VGC was contracted to excavate and re-build over 450 linear metres of footpaths in Bethlehem Woods.

The team installed over 1,600 square meters of Addagrip’s Terrabase Rustic resin bound specialist surfacing. It has made an all-weather path through the area, suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. They laid the surface over black cellweb packed with ballast, which allows water to drain through, while protecting the roots of the neighbouring trees.

The project included over 300 linear metres of drainage below ground, to stop puddles pooling on the walking surface. We installed 400 linear metres of timber edging and over 550 linear metres of aluminium edging to define the path.

Before and after photo
Before and after photos of one of the paths through Bethlehem Woods

Site of special scientific interest (SSSI)

Wakehurst Botanical Gardens, part of Kew Gardens, is a site of special scientific interest. The team used protection to ensure the grass and trees were not damaged by any of the works. The gardens are always busy, with large numbers of members of the public, so the working areas were carefully fenced off, and deliveries were meticulously planned.

The teams ensured that the completed works looked attractive for the hundreds of members of the public who walk through Bethlehem Woods every day.

This was one of a number of projects VGC was involved in for client Graham Construction. See also the glasshouse project.

Graham’s senior quantity surveyor described our team as “consistent, professional, and always go above and beyond to assist”.