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News

We believe that innovation and success are borne out of great relationships and working together in an open, honest and transparent manner. We hope that by sharing our news we will develop and grow our relationship with you and offer added value by sharing our experience and learning.

Our news is of our people, our high-profile projects and our professional affiliations. We would also love to interact with you through our facebook pages and twitter. We are particularly proud of the images of our projects, we hope you enjoy them too.

28 November 2025

King's Sedgemoor Flood Defence Successfully Completed

The final phase of Somerset Rivers Authority's £10 million flood protection scheme has been successfully completed, with 1.22 miles of riverbank raised alongside King's Sedgemoor Drain. This critical infrastructure project, finished in November 2025, will allow nearly 25% more water to safely flow through the 13.5-mile River Sowy-KSD flood relief system, protecting 150 square miles of low-lying Somerset land. Despite challenging geological conditions including peat material susceptible to settlement, specialist excavators and low ground pressure dumpers were deployed to minimise loading whilst maintaining strict EA specifications. The construction of 2,000 metres of earth bund, achieved using both site-won and imported materials over three months, showcased the team's expertise in managing complex ground conditions. Through close collaboration with the client, designer and stakeholders, the project demonstrated the company's capability in delivering critical flood defence infrastructure.

Critical flood protection delivered for 150 square miles of Somerset

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31 October 2025

Maintaining Wetland at Croome Park

In October 2025, WM Longreach partnered with the National Trust to enhance Lickmore Coppice wetland at Croome Estate. Years of silt accumulation and vegetation overgrowth had disrupted its hydrology and habitat, prompting a comprehensive restoration effort. The works included vegetation clearance, ditch reprofiling, tree pollarding, and silt removal, alongside the creation of wetland scrapes and fish refuge areas. Adopting strict biosecurity protocols and using specialised machinery, the team ensured minimal environmental impact while successfully repurposing materials on-site. This project exemplifies WM Longreach's dedication to sustainable land management practices and preserving natural habitats for future generations.

WM Longreach returned  to Lickmoor Coppice after 20 years to carry out a comprehensive restoration.

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17 October 2025

Cruckmeole Wetland Creation

This October, WM Longreach successfully delivered the Cruckmeole Wetland Creation project in collaboration with the Severn Rivers Trust. The project included constructing wetland scrapes, a new pond, and a peak flow take-off pipe at Cruckmeole Farm in Shrewsbury, while navigating complex site conditions such as a sensitive ecosystem and overhead electric cables. Through careful planning, stringent safety measures, and the use of specialised equipment handled by experienced personnel, the team overcame these challenges. The new wetlands provide a thriving habitat for local wildlife and help manage peak water flows, marking a significant environmental improvement.

WM Longreach have been creating wetlands at Cruckmeole Farm to support wildlife and water management

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30 May 2025

Battlefield Wetland Boosts Flood Protection

This May saw the successful completion of phase 1 of an ambitious wetland creation project at Battlefield, Shrewsbury, demonstrating our expertise in delivering nature-based flood management solutions. Working in partnership with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, phase 1 of the scheme transformed 375 metres of culverted drainage ditch into a thriving in-ditch wetland system, complete with 10 engineered bunds and flow controls to slow water movement during storm events. Phase 2 of the project will also include excavation a deep storage ponds and connected scrape features, creating over 2,000m³ of additional flood storage capacity. Despite the challenges of working within a sensitive historic landscape with overhead power lines and public access requirements, our experienced team utilised specialist plant equipment to complete the works efficiently whilst protecting the site's heritage assets. The completed scheme will provide crucial flood protection for downstream communities whilst creating valuable wetland habitats that will support local wildlife for generations to come.

Phase 1 completed of innovative nature-based solution delivering flood protection and biodiversity gains for Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

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08 May 2025

Ironbridge Furnace Pool Restoration Wins Heritage Award

WM Longreach, in collaboration with Telford and Wrekin Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places, has been honoured with the prestigious Heritage Award at the ICE West Midlands Awards. This accolade celebrates their exemplary efforts in restoring the Ironbridge Gorge Upper Furnace Pool. The Institution of Civil Engineers judges commended the team's use of long reach excavators in this complex heritage restoration and praised their commitment to excellence and skilled project execution, positioning WM Longreach as a leader in heritage and civil engineering. This recognition, announced on May 7, 2025, underscores WM Longreach's capabilities in delivering sensitive heritage projects that preserve industrial history while employing cutting-edge engineering solutions.

Engineering expertise recognised at 2025 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) West Midland Awards.  .

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30 April 2025

National Trust Partnership Success

Recent projects at Wightwick Manor and Moseley Old Hall demonstrate our commitment to enhancing visitor accessibility whilst preserving heritage assets. At Wightwick Manor, we successfully implemented innovative 'no dig' garden path construction to protect mature tree canopies, using specialist tree protection systems and compact equipment to minimise environmental impact. This sustainable approach improved accessibility throughout the gardens while maintaining the site's historical integrity. At Moseley Old Hall, we completed essential car park repairs during a planned closure, addressing wear and tear to ensure visitor safety with minimal disruption to operations. Both projects showcase our ability to adapt methodologies to each site's unique requirements - from delicate ecological considerations to efficient maintenance scheduling. Through close collaboration with National Trust conservation teams, we continue to support their mission of maintaining safe, accessible facilities for millions of annual visitors. These schemes reinforce the WM Longreach’s reputation as a trusted partner in heritage conservation, combining technical expertise with operational sensitivity to deliver practical solutions that respect both historical significance and modern accessibility needs.

Delivering sustainable infrastructure and access improvements at historic properties across the Midlands

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03 February 2025

Novel River Dredging Approach Attracts Media Attention

Following the success of the trial scheme in 2024 by the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) to combine traditional ‘mechanical’ dredging using long reach excavators with water injection dredging (WID) on the River Parrett, a significant dredging campaign was recently completed with this innovative method. Timed with high spring tides, the VAN Oord WID vessel ‘Borr’ removed sediment from the channel by placing it into suspension using its high flow pump jets. WM Longreach supplied a 20 tonne long reach excavator equipped with GPS technology working from a floating pontoon to cut the bank back to its original design profile. The material was placed in the channel for dispersal by WID downstream assisted by the outgoing tide. This technique is proven to maintain the channel capacity in the most sustainable and affordable way without needing any land and is crucial to prevent flood events such as the one in 2014, with Chairman of the River Parrett Tony Bradford stating “…it is vital in keeping surrounding villages flood free.” This cost effective and innovative solution caught the attention of the local MP and BBC news as well as a site visit from other IDBs.

Following successful trial last year combining WID with long reach a large section of the Parrett was dredged successfully to mitigate flood risk.

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30 January 2025

Attingham Park Mile Walk & Walled Garden Path Restoration

This involved the restoration and improvement of an existing footpath on ‘Mile Walk’ in the SSSI registered parklands and historic pleasure grounds of Attingham Park. The existing path was heavily worn and uncomfortable for buggies and wheelchairs. Proposal was to resurface with a self-binding hoggin gravel, sourced locally, to create a smoother and more user-friendly footpath.

Restoring and improving existing pathways in SSSI registered parklands.

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