Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Filling Quarters 3 & 4 completed. Subsoil(1) and topsoil reinstated on Quarter 3 by dumper and loader, on
Quarter 4 by tractor and scraper. Both put down to grass.
F
IG. 69
Operations plan for the Bush Farm Agricultural Restoration Experiment. Initial, intermediate and late res-
toration stages. (Redrawn from Final Report (1982-1987) for Bush Farm, Upminster, Essex. Ready
Mixed Concrete (United Kingdom)
T
ABLE 15
Methods of moving and replacing soil on the four quarters of the Bush Farm Experi-
ment.
Area
(ha)
Quarter
Soil movement
Restoration method
Date of restoration
1
1.68 Direct
Dumper
1977
2
1.96 Direct
Scraper
1978
3
1.94 Stockpiled
Dumper
1981
4
2.03 Stockpiled
Scraper
1981
Before work started, the agricultural land in this area was classified as Grade 2.
At the end of the experiment in 1987, the best parts were graded 3a and the area most
affected by gas emissions graded 3b/c. A small amount of settlement (0.4-0.6 m) oc-
curred on the first quarter but was less in subsequent strips where the refuse was more
compacted.
Table 15
shows the methods of soil handling used in each quarter. These
provided valuable practical experience, but since each quarter had a unique combin-
ation of treatments, and was reinstated at different times, it was impossible to com-
pare the crop yields statistically: one could not be sure that any observed difference
in yield was due to any one particular factor, or, indeed, just due to chance. (In statist-
ical parlance, the treatment effects were confounded.) The absence of an unquarried
'control' area from which crop yields were measured also limited precise conclusions.
Nevertheless, yields of barley, wheat, peas and potatoes have compared favourably
with local and national averages, and so the Experiment has been judged a success. It
clearly is possible to restore landfill sites to productive use.
Not all land taken for gravel is prime agricultural land, of course, and it is ques-
tionable whether the Bush Farm type of restoration is always appropriate - especially
now that farmers are being encouraged to take land out of agriculture through the Set-
