Depending on the level of erosion and the geology of the site, spoil - the soil and rocks dug up during path restoration - will have a mineral or organic content. Any spoil with a high organic contact is used to aid re-vegetation. Other spoil can be used for:
- Forming a base for re-vegetation works
- Filling gullies and side paths
- Stabilising slopes along with boulders and stones
- Forming mounds and associated alignment works
Photo below: bund for burying spoil from an eroded path. The spoil is hidden behind the bund then turfed over and the area seeded.
Spoil normally comes from the path line and ditching works, but if in short supply 'borrow pits' can be made if agreed. When we create mounds and banks to contain the path, we try to copy the natural landforms of the site. These can then be turfed and seeded, incorporating protruding weathered stone if appropriate.
Too much spoil from an erosion scar can smother the surrounding vegetation. The spoil can be raked up into heaps or bunds and covered with turf, weathered stone and soil or buried in hollows or borrow pits. This helps hide the large areas of spoil and aid stabilisation and water retention. The whole area can then be seeded and fertilised to help recovery. Sometimes we need to repeat treatment over many years on poor soils to get a good coverage.