Installing Herpetosure Newt Fencing
Newt fencing installation techniques can vary depending on the newt fencing product being installed, the ground conditions, ecological sensitivity, site access and under ground services.
If you are a Herpetosure professional you may already be installing newt fencing using a dedicated Herpetosure sub-soiler leg. This system allows swift fencing installation and can achieve thousands of newt fencing metres per day; our Herpetosure fencing sub-soiler legs are available for hire or purchase; please contact the team to find out more – 01664 444 660.
Herpetosure ecological fencing can also be installed using a mini-digger, trencher or by hand digging.
The guide below will give you hints and tips for installing newt fencing, reptile fencing, snake fencing and water vole fencing in various conditions.
How to install Herpetosure Newt Fencing and Reptile Fencing
Technique 1 - The Sub-Soiler Leg
This technique is suitable in favourable ground conditions and requires a crawler or tractor unit to pull the newt fencing leg through the ground (please note that a mini-digger is not suitable for this technique)
The first step is to attach the Herpetosure newt fencing leg. The leg can either be set directly behind the unit or off set to one side; off setting allows newt fencing to be installed tight up to other fencing, hedges or ditches as required.
Instructions are given prior to hire or sale.
Before commencing fencing installation, the area must be checked for under ground services/ordinates. It should be remembered that Herpetosure newt fencing, reptile fencing and snake fencing have a buried depth of 300mm.
The newt fencing sub-soiler leg has an open back, in which to receive panels: newt fencing panels are placed into the leg and then pulled into the ground. As the unit moves forward a slit is created 300mm deep into which the newt fencing panel will slide. Once the first newt fence panel is positioned another is placed into the newt fence leg and the process is repeated.
The newt fencing panels are installed with an approximate overlap of 50mm.
Once the newt fence line is installed, any minor levelling adjustments can than be made. From here the newt fencing is ready to be riveted together.
Newt fencing requires an average of three rivets per joint; one in the top lip and two down the vertical face (reptile fencing often requires 3 rivets in the vertical face).
Holes are drilled into the required positions and then blind riveted together; it is vital that the ecological fencing panels form a tight seal – this is the only way newt fencing will be newt proof!
All that remains is to track in any irregular gaps in the ground or remove any stones which newts may travel underneath. Because Herpetosure newt fencing is so robust tracking down the fence line with care is possible; this will cause the ground to compact and strongly secure the newt fencing.
Care should always be taken to minimise the impact machinery has the ground.
Support stakes may be used for Herpetosure reptile fencing and for snake fencing installations support stakes should always be used.
Technique 2 – The Trench Method
This newt fencing installation technique involves excavating a trench 300mm deep x 150mm wide.
There are a number of machines suitable for this method of newt fence installation, these include; mini-diggers, trenchers, whiz ploughs, and of course, by hand.
Here’s a newt fencing tip – wherever possible aim to position spoil material on one side of the trench and maintain an even trench depth and smooth trench side.
Once the trench has been excavated, newt fencing panels should be positioned in the trench and pushed against the opposing trench wall to the spoil material. Partially backfilling the trench around the joints of the newt fence is useful, this allows panels to be held in position for drilling and riveting.
Once the newt fencing is riveted together, the remainder of the spoil can be mechanically back filled and tracked in.
Corners
Herpetosure newt fencing makes corners very straight forward. A trench should be dug around the corner as required; the newt fence panel should then be installed to the trench and curved around the corner. Putting a slice in the top lip (down to the bend) at the point of the corner will allow the lip to over lap and be secured with a rivet.
One-Way Newt Fencing
Herpetosure one-way newt fencing requires a staked support; these panels can be installed using either of the techniques above, the stakes should then be installed every joint (1.5 metres) and then screwed to the panel. We advise that 4 rivets are used when joining on-way newt fencing panels.
Water Vole Fencing
The installation of water-vole fencing is very similar to that of other ecological fencing; however, the buried depth required is 500mm. This limits the installation technique to either an excavator or a high powered trencher unit.
Once installed, water vole fencing panels should have a finished height of 1200mm and as such support stakes should be installed at every joint.
Newt Fencing Gates and Newt Grids
Contact the team for Specifications and Descriptions – 01664 444 660
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