In the rural area of Norfolk lies the historic Wolterton Hall Estate, a private property undergoing extensive renovation.
A key part of this refurbishment was restoring the large lake behind the hall, which had lost its original depth due to years of sediment accumulation. In close collaboration with the main contractor, Smals designed a comprehensive dredging plan, including a temporary storage and dewatering depot for the extracted sediment.
The location posed a logistical challenge: the cutter dredger and pipelines could not be transported via regular routes due to the marshy, difficult-to-access terrain. A special-purpose vehicle was therefore designed – a custom-built trolley that could be driven to the water’s edge using a shovel. This enabled safe and efficient mobilisation of the equipment.
Using our compact 8-inch cutter dredger, the lake was fully restored to depth, and all sediment was dewatered and reused locally. The result is a significant improvement in water quality, restoration of natural dynamics, and a noticeable boost to biodiversity within the estate.
Location
Wolterton Hall Estate, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Equipment
8” Cutter dredger
Social / economic value
