At Bexhill in East Sussex, ADAS Environmental Consultants devised a solution to deal with Badgers when a sett threatened to undermine an electricity substation.
As a protected species, dealing with Badgers and their setts requires extreme care in order to stay within the law. However, at the same time, a sett in the wrong place can cause significant damage; undermining buildings, possibly causing ground collapse and even structural failure.
The challenge was to assess the situation, devise an appropriate strategy when working in a physically demanding envirornment, to ensure that Badger welfare was not compromised and to obtain agreement of the licensing authorities for the mitigation work to take place.
A licence was obtained to allow works to take place on the Badger sett. After removing vegetation from the site, ADAS Environmental Consultants used a ground penetrating radar survey to identify the routes of the underground tunnels within the sett. A trench was then carefully dug along the perimeter of the substation and a buried Badger proof barrier installed along the fence line.
Drawing upon extensive management experience of this highly protected species, an innovative and environmentally sound solution was produced for the client. This was then implemented within a tight timescale, while continuing to work within legislative constraints. The work prevented further damage to the sub station, with the potential loss of power to the general publics.
The Badgers remained on-site, but in such a way that their tunnelling activity no longer threatened the integrity of the substation.
For further information, or if you have a ecology problem which could be addressed by our team of specialists Ecologists, please contact Barbara Bell. barbara.bell@adas.co.uk, Telephone 01209 822038.