Specialist Seeding for UK Construction and Land Restoration

CDTS North & West delivers specialist seeding, habitat establishment and erosion control for construction, infrastructure and land restoration projects throughout the UK.

Established in 1991, the team matches the application method, equipment and seed specification to the ground conditions, gradient, access and programme.

Choose the Right Seeding and Erosion Control Method

Different areas of the same site can require different methods. Accessible ground may suit mechanical cultivation and drill seeding, while steep slopes, sensitive surfaces and habitat areas need specialist application or erosion-control materials.

CDTS North & West can review your drawings, specification or project brief and identify the most suitable approach for each part of the scheme.

Commercial Hydroseeding Services for Large or Difficult Areas - Hydraulic application combines seed, mulch and binding agents for rapid coverage of large, irregular or steep ground. CDTS North & West operates six units from 2,000L to 6,000L, with capacity to cover 2 to 3 hectares per day. The mulch matrix provides erosion protection during establishment and helps distribute seed uniformly where conventional equipment cannot reach.

Conventional Seeding for Accessible Ground -Mechanical drill seeding and broadcast application suit prepared, accessible ground where tractors and cultivation equipment can operate. Controlled application rates and proper seedbed preparation make this a cost-effective option for large, flat or gently sloping areas.

Wildflower and BNG Seeding for Habitat Specifications -Wildflower and species-rich grassland establishment requires the sowing method, seed mix and ground preparation to work together. CDTS North & West works to the ecological specification and selects an application method suited to the soil, gradient and access constraints.

Direct Tree Seeding for Woodland Establishment -Direct tree seeding establishes native trees and shrubs from seed rather than nursery-grown planting stock. Site suitability, seed treatment, ground preparation and early management all need to be assessed before the method is specified.

Brush Seed Harvesting for Site-Specific Seed Sources -Brush seed harvesting supports projects where the ecological specification calls for seed collected from suitable donor vegetation. It can form part of a wider habitat establishment programme alongside ground preparation and follow-on seeding.

Seeding Solutions Organised Around Project Risk

The required outcome is often wider than vegetation cover. Bare earthworks can erode before handover, access restrictions can put programme at risk, and habitat areas can fail to meet the approved specification if ground preparation and establishment are treated separately.

CDTS North & West combines seeding methods, erosion-control materials and specialist equipment around the constraints of the project.

Highway and Rail Embankments - Plan vegetation establishment around steep earthworks, linear access, traffic management and rail possession constraints.

Steep Slopes and Erosion Control - Protect exposed soil during establishment and select equipment that keeps standard plant away from difficult or sensitive ground.

Mine, Quarry and Land Reclamation - Select methods for large areas, hostile substrates, engineered layers and phased restoration programmes.

Biodiversity Net Gain Seeding - Coordinate ground preparation, seed specification, sowing and early establishment around the ecologist's target habitat requirements.

SUDS Ponds and Flood Management - Establish vegetation on pond sides, swales and drainage features where slope, runoff and changing moisture conditions affect the method.

Residential and Commercial Development - Coordinate amenity grass, wildflower areas, slopes and public open space through one specialist seeding contractor.

SEEDING SPECIALISTS

CDTS North & West provides clear evidence of capability before appointment:

Established experience

Trading since 1991 in specialist seeding and land restoration.

Why Procurement Teams Choose CDTS North & West

CHAS accreditation

Membership CHAS-29009949, with SSIP Approved Contractor status.

Relevant insurance

£5M public liability, £10M employers' liability and £350K contractors all risks cover.

Specialist fleet

Six hydraulic seeding units from a 2,000L compact towed machine to a 6,000L Finn lorry-mounted unit, supported by an Aebi TT275 slope tractor and seedbed preparation equipment.

UK-wide delivery

Based in Cheshire and operating across the whole of the UK.

Review the compliance and key documents and specialist fleet and equipment pages during tender assessment. Current certificates and project documentation should be requested before appointment.

Trusted by Companies of all Sizes Across the UK

Featured Projects

Proven Delivery Across Sectors

Caernarfon Bypass

Client: Tilhill

Sector: Highways

Location: Caernarfon, North Wales

Completed: 2024

Hydroseeding across 60+ hectares of new road embankments, cuttings and verges on the Caernarfon bypass, one of the largest single highway seeding schemes in North Wales. The scale required our 6,000L lorry-mounted hydroseeder to maintain programme, with seed mixes specified to suit local ecological conditions.

Clyde Windfarm

Client: Blackwells

Sector: Energy/Wind Farm

Location: South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Year: Multiple Phases

Hydroseeding across 60 hectares at the Clyde Windfarm complex in South Lanarkshire, one of the largest onshore wind farms in the UK. CDTS North & West delivered multiple phases of hydroseeding across the Clyde North and South sites, applying seed and mulch hydraulically to exposed upland terrain inaccessible to conventional seeding equipment. The scale of this project demonstrates our capacity to match the demands of major energy infrastructure programmes.

Cheshire Green

Client: Jones Bros Civil

Sector: Infrastructure

Location: Cheshire, North West

Year: Ongoing

Hydroseeding and conventional seeding across 10,000 m² plus the planting of 6,000 trees and shrubs at a major new infrastructure and employment site. A waterlogged site demanded careful timing and equipment selection to avoid ground damage while maintaining programme. All seeding and planting is establishing well despite challenging ground conditions.

Tarrington Wetlands

Client: Bentleys

Sector: Wetland Restoration 

Location: Herefordshire

Year: 2024

Combined hydroseeding, conventional seeding and wetland plug planting across approximately 2 hectares, including the installation of 15,000 wetland plug plants across 15 species. Demonstrates CDTS North & West's capability to deliver integrated terrestrial and aquatic habitat schemes in a single mobilisation.

Murphy Construction New Head Office

Client: Ground Control

Sector: Commercial/Development

Location: Golborne, North West

Year: 2025

Conventional and wildflower seeding across 10,000 m² of landscape surrounding Murphy Construction's new head office near Wigan. A high-profile commercial development where specification compliance and visual finish quality were critical for client handover.

Carden Park

Client: Carden Park

Sector: Commercial

Location: Cheshire, North West

Year: 2025

Conventional seeding across multiple contracts at the Carden Park estate and golf course near Chester, including landscape restoration on stony soil contaminated with builders' debris. Rapid establishment achieved despite poor substrate conditions through careful seedbed preparation.

Machynlleth Bridge

Completed: 2024 - Current

Location: Machynlleth, Mid Wales

Sector: Highways

Client: Alun Griffiths

A 1 km new road alignment around a new bridge in a highly sensitive environmental setting. The specification required local-provenance seed and plants throughout, with CDTS North & West providing hydroseeding, conventional seeding, wildflower and BNG seeding, BFM erosion control and planting of 15,000 trees across 5 hectares.

For a detailed breakdown of this project, view the full A487 Machynlleth Bridge case study.