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COOMBES is pleased to announce that Huw Abbey and Paul Fendt have been appointed to head up the COOMBES rail civils team, as we look to strengthen our expanding civils business.

Using various vegetation management techniques and monitoring the results on biodiversity gains, this project aims to shape the future of vegetation management and biodiversity across the network.

Due to the discovery of Ips typographus, also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, our forestry team worked extensively last year to clear a large area of Spruce in woodland comprising part of the High Weald in Kent.

Working on behalf of Network Rail works delivery, we carried out vegetation management and biodiversity improvements at Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill and Hassocks. We caught up with Project Manager, James King to find out more.

Matt is one of our forestry machine operatives, who has been working for Coombes for over 18 years, starting with us at the very beginning.

In the UK, there are an estimated 185 million adult ash trees, with 60 million of them growing outside of our woodlands. Many of these trees are located near high risk targets, such as roads, railways, public spaces and buildings.

Here's a closer look at the recent work we carried out at Eastleigh Cemetery to remove a dangerous tree on a Network Rail route.

Veteranisation is the act of intentionally causing damage to young trees that would take years to occur naturally. This naturally occurring damage helps to create areas of deadwood within a living tree, a critical habitat for a wide range of wildlife.

During routine de-vegetation works, COOMBES were joined by Canterbury City Councillor Ashley Clark, and David Alderson of Network Rail to explain how the work has been planned not only to keep the tracks safe, but also how to help preserve and enhance biodiversity along the lineside estate.

In the first of our staff profiles we catch up with our lead climber, Georgia.

Welcome to the team, Nick Jordan.

Spruce, which accounts for around 60% of our conifer woodland area and is by far the UK's most commercial species, is at risk from Ips typographus, more commonly referred to as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle.

Seeking a safer work environment for rail staff and contractors, COOMBES have invested in automated external defibrillators (AEDs) which will be housed in mobile welfare units.