This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
vertical chalk bank 20+feet
lep
Posts: 4
Hi I have just jioned because of the good quality of answers given to a problem simular to my own . I back onto the north downs so theres a foot of top soil on solid chalk. I have a large vertial chalk face 20+ feet which slowly breaks up..I can't use walls etc being in a green belt area,so would like to cut a terrce bed half way up and use planting to hind it .Now at last my question, I read that using wire mesh and ground anchors with cables for a close fit, would stabilise the face ?? .I have spent days looking in vain for any more info or local companies that do small jobs like mine. So can this work has anyone done this ? p.s there no problem with space for digger etc only my spelling
0
Posts
To get a better idea of the scale of the situation, some pics would really help. Not just a couple of snaps but something that can bring the whole scene into perspective.
Coming up with ideas for a 20ft chalk bank sounds rather scary in all honesty (even to experienced gardeners). A pic, painting and a thousand words and all that
Thank you Hedgehog , I will try to get a frends son who could do the pics over the weekend so watch this space.
crikey.
Well.
If you can't build walls, you need to reduce the angle of the bank rather than necessarily the height. A stable slope in most soils will be about 45 degrees. A steel mesh will allow you to push that a bit steeper, but it won't hold it vertical, so can't replace a wall.
Cheapest option (taking up the most space) would be to form that face into a gentler slope by pulling the top back a bit if you can get a digger up there safely. You could do a series of 45 degree slopes with flat sections in steps. Plant up the flat bits with climbers and shrubs which will both stabilise the ground and hide the chalk faces behind.
The most space efficient option would be to apply for Planning Permission for a retaining wall. You'd have a good argument for one if that's your house I can see in the corner, green belt or not.
But I think you may need to get a structural engineer to have a look at whatever you propose, given the height and proximity to the building.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Agreed with raisingirl.
This is a landscaping challenge of epic proportions and a structural engineer may be idvisable consulting. If the chalk was disturbed by digging with a huge digger, could it come sliding down to the house?!
The only options I can see are some barrier to prevent this possibility with a stairway dug for access to the top of the chalk or rasingirls suggestion of having the bank angle reduced. Either way, heavy machinery is going to be needed.
Hi
I've just seen your post from last July about your chalk wall.
I have a very similar situation and am interested to know what you did.
Did you get advice from a structural engineer?
Would you recommend him?
Regards
The Magpie
Hi
I've just seen your question about your chalk wall
I have a similar problem and wondered if you decided what to do
Did you get advice from a structural engineer?
Can you recommend anyone for structural advice?
Regards
The Magpie