Little Gerpins is located 3km north east of Rainham in the London Borough of Havering. The 17-hectare site is a former quarry which was most recently used for rough grazing, with a small number of ponies occupying the field for a limited annual period. Several attempts had been made to farm the land using contrasting agricultural techniques, but all have proved unsuccessful because of the poor quality of the soil.

This was another site where IVL worked in partnership with the Forestry Commission, by successfully turning several aces of contaminated, disused land into a forest, with new planting of over 17,000 trees and shrubs.

The project

By working in association with the Forestry Commission, the land was restored to a high standard and this improved the overall soil quality and drainage to provide a surface covering for any potentially contaminated areas. Native trees and shrubs were then planted and suitable access for the general public was implemented to enhance the local environment for public enjoyment and wildlife conservation.

Skills and resources

To maximize the potential of the site, IVL liaised with both English Nature and the Royal