Billy Hurst is a construction supervisor for Oren Environmental. He began working for the company over five years ago and has worked on over 80 reed beds.
He describes his role, how he came to work for Oren Environmental, and why reed bed maintenance is essential.
1. Tell us about your current role
I’m a construction supervisor, which means I’m the liaison between our customers and our people on-site. I’m ultimately responsible for steering jobs to successful completion and removing any barriers to achieving that.
2. What did you do before joining Oren Environmental?
I was in the armed forces, but a recurring injury forced me to leave. So, I had a pretty different career. However, the camaraderie among the people was similar.
3. What’s a typical day look like for you?
I’m currently overseeing a reed bed refurbishment that will likely take three to four weeks to complete. I’m usually on site early, and we’ll kick the day off with a site briefing to assess our progress and determine whether there are any issues I need to resolve. After that, I help coordinate various aspects of the refurbishment, update the customer, and unblock any problems my team has raised.
4. What’s the most challenging thing about the job?
Access to many of the reed bed sites we work on can be quite challenging, as they’re often located in hard-to-reach areas. For instance, a reed bed refurbishment requires removing old materials from the site and bringing in new materials and equipment, typically using large vehicles. Coordinating this process can sometimes be tricky. However, as a company committed to sustainability, we always strive to recycle as much as possible and minimise unnecessary trips.
5. What’s the best thing about the job?
Without a doubt, it’s the people that make the job, and this has been true from the very beginning. Even when challenges arise, you’re encouraged and supported to find a solution to resolve issues.
6. Tell us about the reed bed maintenance work you’ve done
I estimate that I have worked on over 80 reed beds. Maintenance of reed beds typically involves cutting back reeds, removing debris, monitoring water flow and quality, controlling invasive species, and doing structural checks and repairs.
7. Why is reed bed maintenance so important?
If I work on a reed bed refurbishment, it typically means the reed bed has been neglected. But regularly maintaining a reed bed prevents costly refurbishments and extends its lifespan.
Reed beds that are looked after also protect the surrounding environment from untreated water being returned to it and causing pollution, which is ultimately a regulatory breach. So the message is clear: maintain your reed bed!
About Oren Environmental
Oren Environmental is part of Severn Trent, one of Britain’s largest water companies. We specialise in nature-based solutions to managing water, like reed beds and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), for organisations nationwide.
