On a recent evening walk through my local forest, I was struck by the abundance of acorns and maples covering the ground. This year is what arborists call a mast year – a natural phenomenon in which trees produce unusually large numbers of seeds. Although a notable ecological event, it may also be an early warning sign for the built environment.
What does a mast year mean for construction and infrastructure?
A mast year can indicate that trees are under stress, often due to prolonged drought. These environmental pressures are closely linked to the same climate patterns – droughts, heatwaves and sudden heavy rainfall – that are also causing increased ground movements and subsidence in the UK and Ireland.
There are large areas of shrinkable clay soils in the United Kingdom, such as large parts of London and the South East, North East England, parts of the North West (such as Manchester and parts of the Lancashire Plains) and the Trent Valley. The interaction between trees, moisture loss and soil behavior can have serious consequences for buildings and infrastructure. Because roots remove moisture from the soil, especially during dry periods, the soil can shrink, leading to cracking, settlement, and foundation instability.
Urban trees and the sustainability balance
The London iTree report estimates that there are over eight million trees in the capital, providing key benefits such as improved air quality, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. However, as climate conditions become increasingly volatile, these same trees can interact unpredictably with the built environment.
The challenge for sustainable building professionals is to balance environmental value with soil stability and ensure that the benefits of urban greening are not offset by costly structural damage.
Building climate resilience through sustainable renovation
At Mainmark we see a growing demand for gentle, sustainable soil construction solutions that counteract subsidence without having to resort to disruptive excavations or tree felling. We can achieve this by taking a “combined methodological” approach, emphasizing both the building and the natural environment. Our Teretek® resin injection solution is a greener, cheaper and faster alternative to settlement repair that strengthens foundations and levels soil without the need for underpinning.
By using data-driven monitoring, collaborative planning with arborists, and sustainable restoration technologies, developers and asset owners can protect both their structures and the surrounding natural environment.
A call for integrated climate adaptation
The Mast Year phenomenon is a reminder that climate change is affecting every aspect of our built environment – from the roots of our trees to the integrity of our foundations. A sustainable construction approach must take these interdependencies into account and provide for long-term resilience.
Mainmark UK is part of the global Mainmark group of companies – originally founded in Australia in 1989, but successfully delivering projects in New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, the UK and Ireland. With its leveling, ground improvement and void filling solutions, the company has successfully implemented 82,000 projects worldwide to keep infrastructure future-proof against climate-related disasters.