ACO are a globally recognised brand in the supply, design, development and manufacture of surface water drainage systems. In conjunction with this, they produce a range of wildlife mitigation products under the ACO brand which offer innovative solutions for the protection of wildlife with a more long-term approach than traditional mitigation installations.
This approach makes the ACO range of products ideal for addressing issues presented to protected wildlife species by more permanent infrastructure hazards such as roads, drainage systems, gullies etc or other man-made features from which wildlife has no means of escape, or that blocks their foraging paths.
Some of the products from the ACO Wildlife range such as the ACO Amphibian Guide Fence, ACO Amphibian Tunnel Systems and the ACO Wildlife Kerb can form part of the permanent hard landscaping on road build projects through wildlife or amphibian sensitive territory, or can be retro-fitted to existing roads or infrastructure.
The ACO One-Way Amphibian Fence Panel creates an impenetrable one way amphibian or reptile fence for use as a long term installation. The curved panel profile allows amphibians or reptiles to pass over the fence in one direction but ensures there is no chance of movement in the return direction.
ACO Amphibian Guide Fence
The ACO Amphibian Guide Fence is designed to create an amphibian or other wildlife proof barrier by acting as a retaining wall providing a permanent step in the landscape This barrier helps to guide species to safe habitat, or to a safe crossing point, such as provided by the ACO Amphibian Tunnel Systems and preventing amphibians from entering hazard zones such as roads.
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| ACO Guide Fence installed |
The pre-formed polymer concrete panels are free-standing and can sit directly onto a hardcore or concrete sub-base, slotting together to form a vertical barrier. This can be then back-filled up to the top edge to create robust, weight bearing wall. The anti-climb surface incorporating overhangs, prevents amphibians from breaching the barrier.
The panels can also be left free-standing without the back-fill as an alternative to more traditional, 'trenched-in' newt fencing structures. This makes it a viable option for creating an amphibian or reptile proof barrier across hard standing surfaces.
As well as straight panel sections, additional components are available to create internal & external curves, as well as dealing with changes in gradient.
As well as straight panel sections, additional components are available to create internal & external curves, as well as dealing with changes in gradient.
ACO Amphibian Tunnel Systems
ACO Tunnel Systems are designed to create safe crossing points on roads where amphibian populations are present and may need to cross the road to reach spawning grounds. Used in conjunction with ACO Amphibian Guide Fence Panels acting as a funnel to direct amphibians to the tunnel this can prevent amphibians from venturing onto roads or remove the need to create new wetland habitat on the amphibian side of the road.
The polymer concrete tunnel sections incorporate 'climate holes' in the exposed top surface so that the atmosphere inside the tunnel remains equalised with the external ambient conditions. This eliminates the problem of 'drying out', a symptom of other tunnel systems where amphibians can become dehydrated mid-tunnel and die.
This tunnel system is installed flush with the road surface meaning that the tunnel doesn't have to be as deep as other tunnel systems. This requires less excavation to install and reduces the chance of the tunnel flooding with high ground waters.
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| ACO Amphibian Tunnel with ACO Guide Fence |
The polymer concrete tunnel sections incorporate 'climate holes' in the exposed top surface so that the atmosphere inside the tunnel remains equalised with the external ambient conditions. This eliminates the problem of 'drying out', a symptom of other tunnel systems where amphibians can become dehydrated mid-tunnel and die.
This tunnel system is installed flush with the road surface meaning that the tunnel doesn't have to be as deep as other tunnel systems. This requires less excavation to install and reduces the chance of the tunnel flooding with high ground waters.
ACO Wildlife Kerb
Amphibians are known to proceed along any vertical surface that they meet. Roadside kerbstones act in this way, potentially directing amphibians towards roadside drain openings and gullies. The ACO Wildlife Kerb incorporates a recessed channel into its design and when installed inline with other kerb stones at a drain opening, can provide a safe passage for amphibians around the hazard.
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| ACO Wildlife Kerb installed |
A recent study conducted over 2 years in Scotland had shown that 60-70% of drain gully pots contained some form of wildlife, the majority of which were amphibans. With no means of escape, this means certain death for these creatures. This study and the piloting of ACO Wildlife Kerbs was recently featured on the BBC News website:
Wildlife 'friendly' kerbs pilot in Blairgowrie
ACO Wildlife Kerbs are made from Vienite, an extremely tough recycled polymer concrete and are designed to replace a standard HB2 kerb unit.
Wildlife 'friendly' kerbs pilot in Blairgowrie
ACO Wildlife Kerbs are made from Vienite, an extremely tough recycled polymer concrete and are designed to replace a standard HB2 kerb unit.
Amphibian Stop Channel
The ACO Amphibian Stop Channel provides an amphibian proof vehicle crossing. Where it is necessary to provide a break in an amphibian or reptile proof fence, or ACO Guide wall for vehicle access, the ACO Amphibian Stop Channel can be installed to allow vehicles to drive over but amphibians drop safely through a grid. They are then guided along the channel, back to the amphibian side of the barrier.
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| ACO Stop Grid Channel |
The weight bearing grating of the grid is designed in such a way that makes it almost impossible for amphibians to cross without falling through the apertures to the channel below.
The channel component is cast from reinforced concrete, whilst the grid and side rails are cast iron. The grid is bolted down to prevent theft.
The ACO One-way Amphibian Fence Panel provides a very robust fence system for the protection of amphibians, great crested newts, reptiles and small mammals. The curved profile of the panel creates an over-hanging fence that allows species to pass over the fence in one direction to exit an exclusion area but not return in the other direction.
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| ACO One-way Amphibian Fence installed |
The overhang also provides a cool shaded environment to protect amphibians navigating along the fence from strong sunlight and the possibility of dehydration. Used in conjunction with the ACO Recycled Plastic Stake to provide additional support to the overhang, earth spoil can be banked up to the external curved face to provide maximum chance of amphibian movement over the fence.
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| Amphibian movement over ACO One-way Amphibian Fence |
The ACO One-way Amphibian Fence Panel is made from 100% recycled plastic.
The ACO Nest Box can be built into the brickwork course of a new building, or be retro-fitted to an existing brick wall. This provides suitable roosting habitat for small birds such as blue tits.
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| ACO Nest Box incorporated into brick wall. |
The nest box occupies a space in the brickwork of 3 bricks high by half a brick wide, with the front face sitting flush with the surrounding brickwork. The front cover is removable using 2 screws to allow for cleaning.
All ACO products offer high quality and high performance and we look forward to supplying these products for your project. We hope that incorporating amphibian and wildlife protection into the core design of infrastructure development helps to protect these species.
Visit our website www.wildlifefencing.co.uk for further information or please feel free to give us a call on 0114 256 0106
More information can also be found at www.legacy-habitat.co.uk and www.aco.co.uk
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