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Samphire Hoe is one of Kent’s most remarkable biodiversity sites, built from the chalk excavated during the creation of the Channel Tunnel. What began as reclaimed land has become a thriving 40-hectare nature reserve, home to rare chalk-downland plants, migrating and resident birds, insects, and grazing animals that help keep the ecosystem in balance. Its richness is no accident; the chalk soils support specialist plant species that depend on low-nutrient conditions, and the entire reserve is managed carefully to protect this delicate system.

This week, AW Construction played an active role in that stewardship. Our team joined Eurotunnel colleagues and the site ranger to relocate mulched brambles that had recently been cleared. Keeping these nutrients from breaking down directly into the chalk soil prevents unnecessary enrichment, which would threaten the diverse plant life the Hoe is known for. The work unfolded under the steady gaze of the site’s grazing goats and sheep—natural land managers who control invasive vegetation and spread seeds across the reserve as they roam.

The day’s effort reflects more than a tidy patch of land. It shows AW Construction’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, giving time and labour to a landscape that benefits residents, visitors, and wildlife alike. Samphire Hoe’s success relies on partnership, and volunteering is one way we invest in the long-term health of this unique environment. The reserve stands as a rare example of industrial ingenuity turning into ecological opportunity, and we’re proud to help protect it for future generations.

We’d like to thank Helen Wathen, our client Eurotunnel for giving us this opportunity to help, Lewis the ranger at Samphire Hoe along with Emma and Patrice from Eurotunnel.  Greg Mckenzie and Christian Warrell from AW Construction.

Luckily the rain stayed away!  We certainly look forward to contributing some more volunteer hours in 2026 to this amazing site.

AW Group is a multi-disciplined construction company providing a broad range of support and manpower across building and rail projects.

Our Fields are:

AW Construction – We offer an outstanding UK-wide fit out service, taking care of everything from scheduling rollouts & ordering materials to assistance with design and onsite delivery

AW Rail – We use the very best labour force and a proactive approach to deliver first-class construction and maintenance projects across the rail industry

AW Labour – We provide a high-calibre blue collar and white-collar workforce with a diverse range of skills, to support the construction and rail industries