South East Water has started work on a major new £6.5 million water pipeline in Swinley Forest.

The multi-million pound project will increase the water company’s capacity to move water to and from Crowthorne Service Reservoir, located in the forest, ensuring a more secure water supply for those living in Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire now and in the future.

 Engineering and environmental experts at the company have joined forces on to protect wildlife in the area as work gets underway on the project.

Emma Goddard, Environment Manager, at South East Water said:

“Protecting the environment is a top priority on this essential project and we have worked hard to make sure that we reduce our impact on the forest.”

“After extensive ecological surveys on the area we have put into action a number of animal-friendly steps such as erecting fences around our site to keep newts and lizards away from the construction zone.”

South East Water has relocated a number of reptiles and amphibians, including frogs, Great Crested Newts, lizards, slow worms and snakes, away from its working area. A special fence has also been put up to stop protected Great Crested Newts crawling back into the construction zone.

 Work on the scheme has been timed to reduce the impact on rare ground nesting birds, such as nightjars and woodlarks.

Work to lay the new water pipe within Swinley Forest, and through to Birch Hill, began late last year with a route being cleared through the forest. South East Water contractor Farrans Construction, are now laying the new pipeline, from Wishmoor Bottom moving northwards to the reservoir.

The project is expected to complete by the end of 2015. Plans for phase two of the project, north of the forest, will be finalised in the near future.