What groundworks services do Subsoil Land & Water provide in Kent and East Sussex?

We provide land drainage, pond and lake creation, habitat and wetland works, and excavation and groundworks, plus lake de-silting, lake dredging and water engineering services across Kent and East Sussex.

Do you offer free quotes for groundworks projects?

Yes. We offer free, no-obligation quotes for all land drainage, pond and lake creation, habitat and wetland works, and groundworks projects across Kent and East Sussex. Call us on 07376 622637 to arrange a quote.

Are you accredited and insured groundworks contractors?

Yes. We hold EUSR, NPORS, NRSWA and CSCS accreditations and carry comprehensive public liability and employers' liability insurance, with over 10 years of groundworks experience across Kent and East Sussex.

Home/Services/Land Drainage/Ditch Clearance

Land Drainage • Drainage ditch clearance, reshaping & maintenance

Ditch Clearance Contractors in Battle, East Sussex

Q: Where in Kent and East Sussex do you cover?

We are based in Battle, East Sussex and cover Kent and East Sussex including Battle, Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Tenterden, Hailsham, Heathfield, Rye, Lewes, Robertsbridge and all surrounding towns and villages.

We carry out ditch clearance, reshaping and maintenance across Battle, East Sussex and the wider South East to keep drainage ditches flowing and prevent flooding. Over time, drainage ditches silt up, become overgrown with vegetation, and lose their capacity to carry water — leading to waterlogged fields, flooded lanes and standing water on agricultural and rural land. Our team clears, dredges and reshapes ditches using our own excavators and experienced operators, restoring flow and capacity. Whether you need a farm ditch cleared near Battle, a boundary ditch reshaped in Cranbrook, or a network of drainage ditches restored on an estate in Hailsham, we deliver efficient, environmentally sensitive ditch clearance that keeps your land drained through the wettest months.

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Freshly excavated and cleared drainage ditch in a rural field in East Sussex showing clean clay banks and standing water — ditch clearance contractors Subsoil Land & Water serving Battle, Kent, East Sussex and Surrey

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What We Offer

Ditch clearance — Clearance of silted-up, overgrown and blocked drainage ditches to restore flow and capacity across Battle, East Sussex, Kent and Surrey

Ditch dredging — Mechanical ditch dredging and silt removal to restore depth and water-carrying capacity to drainage ditches across the South East

Ditch reshaping — Reshaping and reprofiling of collapsed, slumped and eroded drainage ditches to restore correct banks and channel profile across Kent and East Sussex

Vegetation clearance — Clearance of vegetation, brambles, reeds and overgrowth from drainage ditches and watercourses across the South East

Watercourse maintenance — Ongoing watercourse and drainage ditch maintenance including debris clearance, weed management and flow management

New ditch excavation — Excavation of new drainage ditches, swales and open channels to collect and direct surface water across agricultural and rural land

Ditch restoration — Full restoration of neglected or abandoned ditches, including excavation, reshaping, silt removal and reinstatement of banks

Recent Ditch Clearance Work

Freshly excavated and cleared drainage ditch in a rural field in East Sussex showing clean clay banks and standing water — ditch clearance by Subsoil Land & Water, drainage ditch clearance contractors serving Battle, Kent and East Sussex

Cleared drainage ditch with water flowing along the bottom through a rural pasture in East Sussex — ditch clearance and reshaping by Subsoil Land & Water, drainage ditch contractors serving Kent and the South East

Kubota mini excavator clearing a drainage ditch and watercourse in East Sussex by Subsoil Land & Water — ditch clearance contractors serving Battle, Kent and East Sussex

Drainage ditch and swale excavation for ditch clearance and reshaping in Battle, East Sussex by Subsoil Land & Water — drainage ditch clearance and maintenance contractors serving Kent and the South East

Specialist ditch clearance contractors based in Battle, East Sussex and serving the wider South East, including Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Tenterden, Hailsham, Heathfield, Rye, Lewes, Robertsbridge and all surrounding areas of Kent, East Sussex and Surrey. We carry out drainage ditch clearance, ditch dredging, ditch reshaping, vegetation clearance, watercourse maintenance, new ditch excavation and ditch restoration throughout the Weald of Kent, the South Downs and the East Sussex and Kent coast. Our ditch clearance services restore flow and capacity to silted-up and overgrown drainage ditches on agricultural, rural and estate land across the South East.

Read our complete land drainage guide

Other Land Drainage Services

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Ditch Clearance FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should drainage ditches be cleared?

Most drainage ditches need clearing every 3-5 years, depending on the surrounding land use, vegetation growth and silt levels. Ditches under trees or next to cultivated land may need clearing more frequently. We assess ditch condition during site visits and advise on a maintenance schedule to keep your drainage system working effectively.

Do you need permission to clear a ditch?

If the ditch is on your land and is not a designated main river or watercourse, you generally do not need permission to clear it. However, if the ditch connects to a main river or watercourse, or if it forms a boundary with a neighbour's land, there may be legal considerations. We can advise on this during the site survey.

Can you clear ditches in restricted access areas?

Yes. We have mini and micro excavators that can access ditches through narrow gateways, between buildings and in tight spaces. For larger open ditches, we use tracked excavators that can work efficiently along long ditch runs across fields and boundaries.

What happens to the silt removed from ditches?

Silt removed from ditches can be spread on adjacent land if it is clean and uncontaminated, or removed from site as waste if required. We are licensed waste carriers, so we can manage silt disposal legally and responsibly. We discuss silt management during the site survey.

Do you reshape and reprofile ditches?

Yes. As well as clearing silt and vegetation, we reshape and reprofile collapsed, slumped and eroded ditches to restore the correct bank profile and channel depth. Proper reshaping ensures the ditch maintains its capacity and flow for years to come.

Book Your Free Site Survey

Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation site survey — we typically respond within 24 hours. Specialist ditch clearance contractors in Battle, East Sussex, serving Kent, East Sussex and Surrey.

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