Sustainable Car Park for Nettlebed Creamery

SOLID was appointed as civil engineers to undertake the external works, surface design and surface water drainage design for a new car park at the fantastic Nettlebed Creamery, set in the beautiful farmland of Nettlebed.

The Creamery is an award-winning organic farm producing a wide range of products, including cheeses, milk, kefir, and cream. Visitors can enjoy these and many other locally sourced items in the on-site market shed. A highlight not to be missed is their famous cheese toastie and coffee – the perfect reward after exploring the farm’s dedicated walking and trail paths.

For this project, SOLID was responsible for designing the car park surface levels, with a particular focus on integrating a sustainable surface water strategy. This included the design of multiple swales, which act as a treatment train providing attenuation, conveyance, and biodiversity benefits. These swales have been planted with wildflowers, ensuring they not only perform technically but also enhance the rural landscape.

In keeping with the natural setting, the gravel surface finish maintains the rustic feel of the working farm while blending seamlessly into its surroundings.

A key part of our work involved hydraulic modelling to ensure the design accurately represented on-site surface water generation. This allowed us to size and shape the swales appropriately, ensuring safe water conveyance with no risk of surface flooding. Finally, a robust yet cost-effective car park build-up was designed to accommodate what is expected to be a busy visitor destination for many years to come.

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