We’re delighted to share that the One Team Wessex working on Gomshall Rock Cutting Renewals for Network Rail have been awarded a Gold Green Apple Award, recognising their excellent Environmental Best Practice in creating a linear artificial badger sett during the works.
Through close collaboration with ecologists, landscaping teams and our designers a proposal to Natural England was successfully devised and approved which allowed the closure of the existing sett while creating an alternative linear sett. In line with the Natural England’s license the sett was closed, constructed and installed six months ahead of starting works on site, allowing sufficient time to monitor any return sightings.
The project team have been stabilising the cutting where the presence of a large badger sett had contributed to embankment instability and subsequent failures. To help provide an alternative home for badgers whilst future proofing the network the team designed and installed an artificial linear sett using cardboard tubes and FSC timber.
A huge congratulations to the project team and our supply chain for looking after the natural habitat and creating greener solutions which removed the need to use single use plastics.
