Badger Proof Fencing, Gilfach Quarry

Cemex UK

Keystone Habitats was commissioned to implement Badger mitigation authorised under a development licence obtained by Keystone Ecology to allow the proposed quarry expansion to proceed.

What did we do?

• Installed Badger proof fencing around a large outcrop of rock in use as a Badger sett following clearance of vegetation on the alignment.
• Installed 12 one-way gates in fencing to allow the resident Badgers to leave the area and prevent their return.
• On completion of the exclusion exercise, the gates were removed and the entire area covered in metal mesh to present re-excavation by Badgers.

How did we do it?

• Keystone Habitats liaised with Keystone Ecology to develop a non-standard technique for sett closure, required due to the location and nature of the sett excavation.
• A pre-works meeting was held between our Habitats Contract Manager and the Project Manager from Keystone Ecology to discuss the terms of the Countryside Council for Wales development licence.
• To minimise disturbance to Badger, vegetation on the fence alignment was cleared by hand.
• Our ecology trained Habitats Contract Manager was named as an agent on the licence.

What were the outcomes?

• The need for additional ecological supervision was avoided with associated cost savings for the client.
• Sett closure was completed in accordance with the licence timetable and quarry expansion was able to proceed on programme.
• The entire project was delivered to budget.