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Press release LIVING ON THE HEDGE OF THE A64 It’s true what they say – one person’s rubbish is another’s treasure - and that is certainly the case for a North Yorkshire gin and sloe gin

producer just off the A64. Over the last seven months, Highways England has been carrying out a major junction improvement at Barton Hill near York to improve safety and visibility for road

users. As part of this £2.8m scheme which completed on Friday, sections of the hedgerow, a number of trees and stone from an old water culvert had to be removed. But rather than throwing

these items away Highways England and its contractor A-one+ have given them a new lease of life by working closely with Jonathan and Julian Curtoys, the owners of Sloemotion. Highways

England project manager Russell Mclean said: > We saved as much of the hedgerow as possible but sections of the > hedge had to be removed. The sloe berries used to produce the gin >

 grow on hedgerows, so it seemed like the perfect solution to donate > the hedge to this local sloe gin producing firm. >  > We were able to reduce the amount hedgerow we needed to 

remove by > altering some of the scheme’s drainage and this work will also > help to prevent flooding in the area. Some logs from the trees were > also donated to Castle Howard 

stately home to be used as chippings > in the ground. Cabinetmaker and artist Mark Bennett, of the Woodlark in Malton, was also brought on board. He will be taking part of an Oak tree

which was removed from the site and transforming it into a bar for Sloemotion. The remainder of the tree will be used to create bat and bird boxes, which will be placed near to the A64. Mark

will also be using some of the removed hedgerows to create innovative displays for the gin company’s products and hand cut stone from the culvert will be used to adorn the company’s new

buildings near Barton-le-Willows. Russell added: > Our work to improve safety at the junction will benefit over 9,000 > drivers a day. We have converted the crossroads to a staggered

> junction by realigning Mains Lane, extended the culvert to allow the > carriageway to be widened, constructed 200m of new road and > realigned 600m of the A64. We have also 

relocated a bus stop, an > emergency telephone and a pedestrian crossing. >  > While we were doing this we upgraded and extended an otter fence to > prevent them coming onto the 

A64. And we have reinstalled an old > milepost and will be replacing a historic road sign that has been > refurbished. Jonathan Curtoys, Managing Director of Sloemotion, said the

junction improvements will benefit his employees who use the junction. > The changes will certainly have a positive benefit for drivers but > then to also donating the hedgerow, the 

stones and timber to local > businesses it feels like something is being given back to the > community. I commend Highways England and A-one+ for this - it has > been a pleasure 

working with them over the last seven months. Mark Bennett of The Woodlark added: > It’s great that we can use what would otherwise have gone to waste > and give something back to the 

environment such as the bird and bat > boxes. Later this year replacement hedgerows will be planted. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer

contact centre on 0300 123 5000. MEDIA ENQUIRIES Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press

officer. SHARE THIS PAGE The following links open in a new tab * Share on Facebook (opens in new tab) * Share on Twitter (opens in new tab) UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 10 August 2018