The September issue of Land Rover Monthly featured an article entitled Eco Defenders describing how Landrovers are a vital part of the Thomson Ecology tool kit.
As reported in the article, Richard Arnold, Thomson Ecology’s Technical Director, said: “Our [Landrover] Defenders have proved themselves when we need to get around large sites”.
Just one of these large sites was London Gateway, on the Thames Estuary. This 320 hectare disused oil refinery was home to a great number of great crested newts, water voles and reptiles including adders. The site was to be developed into one the largest container ports and logistics parks in Europe. Our role was to help reduce the impact on wildlife of this large-scale development.
Due to the size of the site and the fact that it had very few surfaced roads, Richard goes on to say: “The Defenders were quite literally a lifeline”.
Another site where the Landrover fleet has been vital is Wallasea Island, where four and a half million tonnes of earth dug from underneath London, as part of the Crossrail project is being used to turn the agricultural island into a new wetland nature reserve. The reserve will cover 670 hectares, and is the largest coastal habitat creation project of its kind in Europe.
All of the staff who drive the Landrovers are trained inhouse on a course which involves classroom learning followed by a day’s training on nearby land.
