North Wales civil engineering firm Jones Bros helps create ecological area near new Porthmadog bypass construction site

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 2, 2010 -- A DISUSED landfill site has been transformed into a conservation area for bats and reptiles by the Porthmadog bypass construction team.
The 6,000 sq m ecological enhancement area, adjacent to the Ffestiniog railway in Minffordd, will also offer a valuable ecological resource for badgers and invertebrates.
It was created by the joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros (Civil Engineering), which is building the £35m Tremadog, Porthmadog and Minffordd bypass for the Welsh Assembly Government.

The three-week habitat creation project involved translocation of species-rich grassland and bluebell-rich soils from nearby Erw Wen. New hedgelines, mounds and deadwood habitats were also created, and wildflower seed was spread across much of the site.
Trees and shrubs are due to be planted, ensuring the conservation area will be in full bloom when spring arrives.
Site ecologist Mike Head said the project was carried out due to the abundance of bat species in the area and the presence of a lesser horseshoe bat maternity roost close to the bypass route at Minffordd.
He said: “The creation of the ecological enhancement area is one of several measures we have undertaken to mitigate the loss of bat habitat.

“The new habitat will be an excellent place for the bats to forage, as the abundance of trees, hedgerows and flowers means there will be plenty of insects for them to eat.
“It will also serve as a safe habitat for reptiles including grass snakes, slow worms and common lizards.”
Mike, who oversaw the project, added: “The site was formerly a landfill but it hadn’t been operational since the 1970s.
“The work we have done has produced a major improvement in terms of its visual and ecological value.”

Work on the new bypass is progressing at a steady rate. The new section of the A487 carriageway will improve journey times, ease congestion and significantly improve environmental conditions by enabling current through traffic to bypass the three towns.

More information can be found online at http://www.outwrite.co.uk