A14

As part of a communications upgrade the entire length of the A14 was subject to the construction of message signs and cables. The road runs through SSSI’s, SAC’s, Local Nature Reserves, watercourses and has areas of acid and neutral grassland along the verges, all of which require careful working methods. Badgers, bats, reptiles/amphibians, birds were also present along the route. During construction Wildside undertook vegetation clearance along the verges including transplanting orchids and translocating areas of acid grassland for temporary storage before relaying once construction works were complete. Vegetation manipulation had to be undertaken where water voles were present along watercourses but also along verges where reptiles were present. This enabled the works to go ahead without the need for extensive fencing.

Chichester

An old allotment site was being redeveloped and Wildside were responsible for erecting reptile fencing and vegetation clearance, including soil strip. Perimeter and internal fences were installed to speed up the trapping process and ensure the works could commence sooner. The fence lines were carefully chosen to avoid nesting birds (including their allowance of an exclusion zone). Key habitat areas e.g. compost heaps, were dismantled by hand to reduce the impacts on the slow worms and common lizards.  Set routes were marked out for light machinery to reduce impacts to the reptiles and log piles and chippings were constructed within the receptor area for the reptiles.

Bat boxes

Through our specialist tree climbers, bat boxes can be installed at suitable heights within trees as part of temporary/permanent mitigation. They can erect boxes on trees out of reach with lifting platforms and ladders and create the required ‘drop zone’ for the bats with appropriate pruning.