Re-Life Recycled Plastic Boardwalk Installation - Dorset SSSI

Re-Life Recycled Plastic Boardwalk Installation – Dorset SSSI

Specification Snapshot

• Product: Re-Life Recycled Plastic Boardwalk System
• Location: Dorset, UK
• Site type: Wetland reed bed within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Boardwalk width: 1.2 m
• Total boardwalk length: 170 m
• Additional elements: pedestrian bridge, passing places, and turning areas
• Material: 100% recycled plastic structural components
• Application: pedestrian access route across environmentally sensitive wetland habitat

Project Overview

A contractor working within a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Dorset required a durable access solution to replace a failed timber boardwalk crossing a sensitive reed bed habitat.

The original timber structure had deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to wetland conditions. A replacement system was required that could provide long-term durability while reducing ongoing maintenance requirements within the protected landscape.

Built by Bison supplied a modular system comprising 170 metres of 1.2 m wide Re-Life recycled plastic boardwalk, together with widened access sections and a pedestrian bridge.

The route begins at a hardstanding access point, crosses the reed bed environment, and terminates at the adjacent riverbank.

System Specification

The installation incorporated the following modular components supplied by Built by Bison:

• 170 m Re-Life recycled plastic boardwalk, 1.2 m wide
• Three passing areas, incorporating handrails
• Two turning sections to allow manoeuvring along the route
• One widened turning bay measuring 2.5 m × 3.0 m
• One modular pedestrian bridge kit measuring 5.0 m × 1.2 m

Additional lay-by areas were incorporated along the route to facilitate maintenance access and allow pedestrians to pass safely along the elevated walkway.

The modular system enabled efficient installation while minimising disturbance to the surrounding wetland environment.

Material Selection

Re-Life recycled plastic boardwalk was selected as a long-life alternative to traditional timber boardwalks commonly installed in wetland environments.

Timber structures in reed beds and marshland areas are often subject to rapid deterioration due to constant moisture exposure, biological decay and ongoing maintenance requirements.

The recycled plastic system provides improved durability and stability in wet or periodically flooded conditions.

Key material properties include:

• Manufactured from 100% recycled plastic
• Rot-proof and moisture resistant
• Slip-resistant walking surface suitable for wet conditions
• No painting, staining or preservative treatments required
• Stable performance in wetland and flooded environments
• Fully recyclable at end of service life

Installation Considerations

The boardwalk system was supplied as modular components for contractor installation, enabling efficient construction within the environmentally sensitive SSSI site.

Prefabricated elements allow installation with limited excavation and ground disturbance, which is particularly important when working within protected reed bed habitats.

The modular design also allows the boardwalk route to incorporate wider passing points and turning areas without requiring bespoke structural fabrication.

Outcome

The completed installation provides a durable pedestrian access route across the reed bed and river edge while reducing long-term maintenance requirements within the protected landscape.

Replacing the failed timber structure with a recycled plastic boardwalk system delivers a long-life infrastructure solution suited to wetland environments and conservation sites.

The project demonstrates how modular recycled plastic boardwalk systems can be used to deliver sustainable access infrastructure in wetlands, nature reserves, riverbanks and other environmentally sensitive landscapes.