What Types of Wildlife Exclusion Fencing Does Contract Ecology Install?

Contract Ecology installs wildlife exclusion fencing across the UK, including badger fencing, newt fencing, reptile fencing, otter fencing, water vole fencing and amphibian fencing. These are delivered as part of mitigation and enabling works on development projects, where a site needs to either keep protected species out of a work area or contain them safely within or away from it. If your project has a planning condition or a European Protected Species licence attached to it, this is the kind of contractor service that typically sits alongside your ecology survey and reporting.

The fencing types listed by Contract Ecology

The company describes itself as a leading installer of wildlife exclusion fencing and names the following categories:

Amphibian and reptile fencing, plus water vole and badger fencing, are also listed separately as installation services offered UK-wide.

What these fences are actually for

Exclusion fencing is a physical barrier used during development. Depending on the species and the site, it can be used to:

• Exclude animals from a construction footprint before groundworks begin.
• Contain animals within a retained or receptor area while works proceed elsewhere.
• Guide animals toward safe crossing points, refuges or translocation areas.
• Support a licence condition where a mitigation strategy requires a barrier to be installed and maintained for a set period.

This is why the fencing is described as part of mitigation and enabling works rather than as a standalone product. The fence only makes sense as one element of a wider ecological plan.

How it fits into a planning project

Contract Ecology positions its fencing work within the development process:

1. Survey and reporting — an ecology survey identifies which species are present or likely to be affected.
2. Mitigation design — a strategy is agreed, which may include exclusion fencing, habitat creation or translocation.
3. Enabling works — fencing is installed before or during site clearance so that works can proceed lawfully.
4. Implementation of compensation measures — the company states it can implement every recommended compensation measure, including under the strict conditions of a European Protected Species licence.

The company also states it will only recommend a mitigation strategy it is certain can be achieved — a useful signal if you are weighing up whether a proposed fencing scheme is realistic for your site.

Choosing a fencing contractor: what to check

Because exclusion fencing is tied to licence conditions, the practical questions matter more than the product name:

• Does the contractor hold the relevant licences and qualifications? Contract Ecology states its team holds the necessary qualifications and licences for ecological services, specialist surveys, consultancy and practical environmental groundworks.
• Can they cover your region? The company states it installs UK-wide.
• Do they understand the licence conditions, not just the installation? Fencing that fails to meet a licence specification can stall your planning consent, so the installer needs to work to the ecologist's or licence's requirements.
• Is fencing part of a broader mitigation package? If you also need habitat creation, land management or survey work, using one practice for both can reduce coordination problems.

When you might not need exclusion fencing

Not every project requires it. If your survey finds no protected species affected, or if the mitigation strategy relies on timing restrictions, buffer zones or habitat retention instead of a barrier, fencing may not be specified. The survey and the licence (if one is needed) determine this — fencing is a response to a specific finding, not a default requirement.

Getting a quote

Contract Ecology invites enquiries by phone on (0)1772 731 404 and through its contact page. If you approach them, it helps to have your survey report, the species involved and any licence conditions to hand, since these determine the fencing specification and the installation programme.