- Highways
- 10 Dec 2025
When our Highways team in Hampshire discovered some badger setts in the area where they needed to fell some trees suffering from ash dieback, they were quick to call in our ecologists.
Working on behalf of Hampshire County Council, our team was working to fell approximately 25 large ash trees on a local site. Before we started, a thorough pre-site inspection uncovered several badger setts in the area.
Understanding the impact disturbing the badgers would have, we worked with our ecologists to further assess the area. After a site visit, it was made clear this was a lively badger hotspot, with around 18-20 setts. To properly understand their movements, we set up cameras for six weeks, which confirmed regular badger activity.
This awareness of the badgers meant we adapted our thinking to how to tackle the tree felling. Working in close partnership with ecologists, we designed a plan that kept the badgers safe and the project moving, including:
· No trees felled onto ground: Dropping a tree meant a risk the setts could collapse and trap badgers inside. Instead, we hired a 90-tonne crane to carefully lift trees away with zero ground impact.
· Safe processing: To reduce noise and vibrations, all tree processing was carried out over 30 metres from the setts.
· Efficient road management: The site required closing a main road. With strict permits and tight schedules, we only had a five-and-a-half-hour window per closure. We brought in a high-capacity chipper and a 44-tonne lorry, processing everything in one run to stick to schedule and cut disruption.
Our team introduced cranes to lift trees, avoiding the trees falling onto the ground, disturbing the badgers
Due to badgers entering a less active period around December, our work had to be completed before this to ensure we didn’t disturb them when they were most vulnerable.
Simon Watson, Hampshire Business Director at M Group Highways, said: “Working in close collaboration with our team and our stakeholders, alongside adopting expert advice and careful planning, ensured we delivered the job safety, while protecting the local badgers. We’re incredibly proud of how everyone came together to protect the environment where we were working.”
The project was completed on time, on budget and with minimal environmental disturbance
