Lake excavation and lining at Three Willows, Hingham
In June 2021 we were instructed by Three Willow Lakes in Hingham to construct a new 0.75-acre lake. This would be a second large lake on higher ground to complement their existing horseshoe-shaped lower fishing lake.
Excavation and liner installation
The lake was excavated 300mm deeper than the finished grade. The additional 300mm of soil is set to one side in a bund.
The liner was laid over the subgrade using a laying beam. Witness marks help the team maintain the correct longitudinal overlap, with the non-woven side facing up in order to maximise shear strength characteristics.
One of the many advantages of GCL Liner is its self-sealing properties. In the event of damage, water will hydrate the Bentonite clay which is sandwiched between the layers. This renders the liner impermeable.
With the panels laid in place, we reintroduced the 300mm of excavated soil, compacting with the back of the digger bucket.
The banks were profiled using a steep-sided 3:1 ratio, therefore an excavated anchor trench was required around the perimeter.
October 2021
When we revisited in October 2021 the lake was still under development, with recent additions of the otter fencing and soon-to-be-added fishing pegs. Plenty of wildlife about the place already!