AERATION , IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE
Terrain ’ s deep aeration in Yorkshire Sculpture Park
ituated near Wakefield , West Yorkshire , the
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Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an open-air gallery that showcases work by world-class British and international artists , including Yorkshireborn Henry Moore , Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst . The park has one of the largest open-air collection of Moore ’ s bronzes in Europe . Spread over 500-acres of 18th century designed landscape of Bretton Hall , YSP opened in 1977 and was the first UK sculpture park based on temporary open-air exhibitions that were organized in London parks from the 1940s to 1970 by the Arts Council and London County Council .
Today , the ‘ gallery without walls ’ has an ever-changing exhibition programme and preparing to reopen after lockdown presented an opportunity for remedial work to be done . Following a site visit by hydrology consultants inspecting a waterlogged area , they brought in Terrain Aeration with their deep aeration treatment system . The area in question was an important part of the Lower Park and a popular area for visitors and curators . It suffers from compaction due to footfall and the weight of sculptures , resulting in the build-up of standing water .
“ It is unusual for the area to be cleared ,” says Mark Chesman , Head of Estates and Parks at YSP , “ but the sculptures in that area were removed for conservation work , and we seized the opportunity as part of a wider project . In all , it took two-and-ahalf days and they treated 4,000 square metres of land .”
Terrain Aeration ’ s Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil using a JCB road breaker gun . At depth , the ground is usually so compacted it needs the hammer to break through . Compressed air is then released to a maximum of 20Bar ( 280psi ) to fracture and fissure the soil and the process is repeated in two-metre spacings , to ensure the fissures interlink . On the end of the air blast , dried seaweed is injected which sticks to the fissure walls , expanding and contracting with moisture content in the soil and keeping the area ‘ breathing .’ The 1.5-inch probe holes created by the Terralift machine are backfilled with aggregate to provide a semi-permanent aeration / ventilation shaft , helping to keep the whole aeration process working . The park ’ s groundkeepers then overseeded the area to finish .
We tend to take trees for granted , in our parks , public spaces and estates but they are often subjected to stress as a result of several factors , such as nutrient shortage , surface compaction due to foot traffic , and waterlogging where water drains off hard surfaces . Yorkshire Sculpture Park features lime trees , beech and Atlas cedar amongst others and these were given Terrain Aeration treatment as well . Breaking up the soil around the roots , and beyond , means excess water will drain away from the roots to help stop anaerobic conditions and rotting of the root system . “ We ’ re confident with what ’ s been done ,” says Mark , “ and will be looking at further areas to be treated , probably in the autumn .”
Terrain Aeration | 01449 673783 | www . terrainaeration . co . uk
30 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | June / July 2021