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(Hinckley Times, 6th March 2008) Hinckley racer Phil will be campaigning Ginetta G50 in the series with the same RPM team who helped guide him to three wins in the 2007 Radical Enduro Championship. The series will see 14 races fought out on eight of the UK's top circuits during the seven-month period in front of up to 25,000 fans. It shares equal top-billing with the British F3 championship, which has blooded many top F1 drivers over the years, including Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button. There are two classes in the championship - the main GT3 class and the GT4 sub-class, which is where Phil will be competing. But far from being slow, his car weighs just 800kg and throws out around 300bhp through its six-speed sequential gearbox. "It will be a learning year because the car is so different," said Phil. "The Radical I drove last season was covered in aerodynamic parts - but the GT has loads of power and no aero. It relies on mechanical grip and it will be a lot harder. It will be a steep learing curve but we will challenge whenever we can." Phil's RPM team couldn't have a higher pedigree - they are the reigning British GT champion outfit and helped him to his 2007 Radical wins at Donington Park, Oulton Park and the epochal Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. His co-driver has been announced as Steve Tandy, who is fresh from a season of racing Historics. And his cause will no doubt be helped by the news that reigning British GT champion drivers Alex Mortimer and Bradley Ellis have signed up as driver coaches to help him find his way in the new discipline. More information on the series is available at brisithf3gt.com . (Silverstone, 6th March 2008) The 2008 Championship will be contested over eight events in the UK. Six events will host 2 x 1 hour endurances races, and Silverstone and Donington Park will host 1 x 2 hour endurance races. Tickets are available courtesy of Geosynthetics if you are interested in attending any of events. For more information please contact our sales office on 01455 617 139 or email sales@geosyn.co.uk .

Essentially it takes an in-depth look at something called diffuse pollution. Amongst other things this includes silt running into watercourses and drainage systems as a result of soil erosion on unprotected slopes. So why is silt such a problem? Too much silt in rivers, lakes and estuaries can be devastating for existing wildlife habitats and the Environment Agency reckons that 23% of our rivers are suffering in this way. One instance of this is the harm it can cause to salmon and trout populations by spoiling the gravel beds essential for spawning. And that’s not the only problem; drainage systems can be seriously damaged by silt blockages leading to higher maintenance costs. How will this affect me? If you need to design or construct a slope or embankment, then very soon you could be asked what steps you’ll take to prevent soil erosion from it. There’s no legislation at present but pressure is growing for planners, architects and developers to design diffuse pollution out of urban waterways. This means that Local Authorities are likely to be taking a much closer look at how this kind of work is carried out so it’s worth keeping well informed. So what’s the best way to prevent erosion? In a word: vegetation. Plants and their root systems provide effective filtration and reduce silt-run-off as well as stabilising the structure of banks and slopes. Plants also have the advantage of creating an attractive and sustainable environment and improve the look of any site. However, full erosion prevention only occurs once the vegetation has fully developed so it’s crucial to give emerging seedlings a head start. What can I do to help vegetation get established? One of the easiest, quickest and most cost-effective ways is to use an Erosion Control Mat or ECM. This helps by reducing the impact of wind and water erosion, allowing plants to gain a foothold in the early stages of their development. How do they work? ECMs are simply pinned to the face of the slope, providing a stable environment that encourages plants to flourish and build a strong, healthy root system; the key to maintaining long-term protection against erosion. It’s simple to install and you can choose from several different types depending on where they’re going to be used. This could be a new or existing construction including embankments, channels and around pipe inlets and outlets. They can even be used where the slope is in permanent contact with water such as rivers lakes or drainage ditches. Which should I choose? Landlok® ECMs offer three different products which can handle almost any stormwater, drainage or erosion prevention application: Channel and slope protection Erosion Control Blankets or ECBs are biodegradable and gradually decompose over a period of time. This environmentally-friendly product gives vital protection to seeds and soil during the crucial early stages of growth. High-flow channels and steep slopes For this kind of situation Turf Reinforcement Mats or TRMs give longer term performance and durability. These permanently reinforce mature vegetation providing twice the amount of protection as vegetation alone. Heavy-flow channels and extremely steep slopes For the ultimate in permanent protection the High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat or HPTRM is the one to go for. These are ten times stronger than standard TRMs and can withstand the most extreme conditions. As well as being ideal where only limited growth of plants can be expected, they give the extra protection needed around storm-water run-off pipes. Could I just use concrete for erosion protection instead? TRMs and HPTRMs have the added advantage of offering a cost-effective alternative to hard armour erosion control. In simple economic terms with ECMs are likely to save you between 33% and 50%. The other downside of traditional hard armour methods such as riprap or reinforced concrete is the need for installation by a specialist civil-engineer. What’s more they require regular maintenance and are often rejected by planning officers on aesthetic grounds. Where can I find out more? Geosynthetics Limited offer the complete Landlok® range as well as providing plenty of useful advice on design and installation. For more information contact our sales office on: 01455 617 139  or email: sales@geosyn.co.uk

Image of Pauanui Waterways courtesy of  Waterford You’ve probably seen RockBox™ Gabions used for retaining walls and slope protection when driving along new roads and bypasses. But did you know they’re increasingly being used for domestic purposes? Read further and discover how you can use them to save money, create more useable space and add a contemporary twist to landscaping. What are they? RockBox™ Gabions are metal cages filled with stone to provide a modern and attractive retaining structure. You can choose from a wide range of sizes and have them delivered in flat-packs ready for easy assembly on site. By filling them with local materials they can blend in and harmonise with the surrounding landscape. Alternatively you can experiment with different colours and types of rock for a dramatic design feature. What are they used for? With their solid, stable structure, RockBox™ Gabions provide a unique alternative to retaining walls and a much longer-lasting solution than some timber walling solutions. What’s more they provide better drainage too and they’ve been in widespread use for years in civil-engineering projects for things like erosion control and river training. How can I use them in domestic situations? RockBox™ Gabions are often used in gardens with a gradient as a distinctive option to traditional retaining methods. They can be used for exactly the same purposes but are ideal for creating large areas of level ground to provide more useable space on a sloping site. Many landscape gardeners are choosing RockBox™ for its design appeal too. Unlike concrete or other solid structures RockBox™ allows vegetation to flourish and can incorporate design features like planters or lighting to give a striking appearance to any modern landscaping scheme. As well as this its versatility means you can include structural elements such as fencing posts while the mesh is being filled.   The Sunshine Garden by Paul Stone Photo: Marc Stapleford Landscape Design So how can RockBox™ save money? For a start there’s no need for concrete so no mixer, sand or cement is necessary and there’s usually less excavation required. Then there’s the time you’ll save too; a typical RockBox™ wall can be erected in half the time it takes to lay a double skin brick or block wall. How easy are they to put together? Very easy - the base and sides are joined together with tying-wire and helical springs to create a simple but incredibly strong construction. It’s then just a case of filling with the desired stone and adding the top mesh in the same way. You’ve also got the option of manual or hydraulic pliers to suit the size and type of project you’re working on. For more examples on how they’ve been used just ask Geosynthetics who can supply a range of case studies to help you decide on the best way of using RockBox™ for your next job. As well as free advice on assembly and installation they’ll provide guidance on the design and the size of aggregate needed. What other advantages are there over traditional methods? Unlike solid walls, RockBox™ allows the free movement of water, providing effective drainage. This not only reduces the chance of waterlogged ground but also means that the construction is less likely to be undermined by fast-moving water in exceptional weather conditions – something we’ve seen plenty of recently! What types and sizes are available? You can choose RockBox™ in standard metric sizes ranging from 1m x 1m x 0.5m up to 2m x 1m x 1m. Two types of mesh are available – woven and welded. Woven units are generally used where they’re not going to be seen or where cost is the overriding factor. Welded RockBox™ units are used when the finished wall is visible and part of a landscaping scheme. Both are available in a galvanised wire finish or in a plastic coated finish; the plastic coated units are usually used for exposed situations such as rivers and highway applications. So next time you come across a job that needs a retaining wall, stop and think whether RockBox™ could give you the edge. Its distinctive looks might not be to everybody’s tastes, but for those who are looking for a dramatic design statement (not to mention cost-saving and performance!) it could be a real winner. For more information on RockBox Gabions contact our sales office on 01455 617 139 or email sales@geosyn.co.uk