Determining Soil Type

[Cab-over Pete]

Aye-up,

HS2 has thrown up some interesting questions around here and I have a friend who would like to find out exactly the make up of his soil before the diggers move in. Therefore, when he gets it back in 10+ years, he knows what he wants.

What’s the best way, where’s the best place to get it sorted?

Cheers, Pete.

 

[Clive]

Aye-up,

HS2 has thrown up some interesting questions around here and I have a friend who would like to find out exactly the make up of his soil before the diggers move in. Therefore, when he gets it back in 10+ years, he knows what he wants.

What’s the best way, where’s the best place to get it sorted?

Cheers, Pete.

Speak to @Rhiza-UK and get their soil scientists to map and categories it

 

[FARMERJERRY]

Speak to @Rhiza-UK and get their soil scientists to map and categories it

Landis.org.uk UKSrg and soils.org uk are websites which show soil types etc all via cranfield university

 

[AndrewM]

get an expert in to survey the drainage as-well, both natural flow and field drains. make sure it gets put back properly.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Ok, thanks all, I’ll pass that on.

 

[Campbell]

Go easy with your pen Pete, this sort of thing could tip us over the 50, 65, 70, £100bn or whatever budget.........

 

[Brisel]

Aye-up,

HS2 has thrown up some interesting questions around here and I have a friend who would like to find out exactly the make up of his soil before the diggers move in. Therefore, when he gets it back in 10+ years, he knows what he wants.

What’s the best way, where’s the best place to get it sorted?

Cheers, Pete.

In that case it's Grade 1 silt

 

[Case856xl]

in most situations like this, the company will test soil and will ensure its back to its original state after HS2 is finished. Thats what happened to my mate who had wind farm cables through his land. SOYL tested it before and will test it after to ensure its the same else THEY ( wire company pay) this was all done through his land agent

 

[Wastexprt]

I would suggest that once the soil has been stockpiled for 10+ years it won't be quite the same as it was when they stripped it back. It may be possible to replicate the soil physically, but not biologically.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

That’s true, but at least if they bury all the top soil and leave subsoil on the top there may be some evidence.

 

[Matt L]

The company employed to oversee the project not sure who it will be yet but they have to carry out surveys along the routes which include soil type and depth so that there is always a document showing what it was before.
This is common practice and will be available to view by the landowner. Usually a combination of land agent and consultants

 

[Cab-over Pete]

They have done that, rules state one per hectare. My friends have 5 fields affected in that hectare. HS2 have taken one sample from one field, not representative at all.

 

[Matt L]

That’s odd. They normally stipulate every 100 metres along the length of the route

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I’ll pass that on, thank you

 

[Mounty]

That’s odd. They normally stipulate every 100 metres along the length of the route

Every 100 metres would be the centre of a hectare grid so I guess thats what they're doing.

 

[Matt L]

Yeah I suppose it is. Hadn’t thought of the maths. It is a lot of soil samples along a route tbf. The project I was involved in was 25k and every sample had to be geo referenced.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

All that still makes no difference if all they’ve done is take a sample from one of five fields.

When hedges were planted years ago they knew where to put them. The soil can vary greatly just over the hedge.

 

[egbert]

All that still makes no difference if all they’ve done is take a sample from one of five fields.

When hedges were planted years ago they knew where to put them. The soil can vary greatly just over the hedge.

exactly so..... I was doing a major resto job on a drystone wall backalong.
On one side, a field of inbye, with peaty loam up near the wall, but deffo better than the actual peat rough ground the other side of the wall.
I'd always suspected the loamy content was the result of years of turning it up -it has been in arable rotation often before modern times I believe.
(Ploughing would release peat carbon, and bring up subsoil I reasoned).

and what did I find under the footings of this centuries old wall?
A clear divide, mirroring the soil types in the respective fields. Wow!

 

[Cab-over Pete]

That’s what makes sampling for lime, indeed anything, so interesting in big fields made up of many small fields

 

[Wastexprt]

For deployments the EA deem one soil sample per field (anything from 1 - 100ha) to be 'representative'... When I tried to use soil mapping sheets, they wouldn't accept them. No reason given, just 'Computer says no'