Keep your lawn and house safe by newt fencing

Newt fencing is a barrier designed to control the movement of amphibians or reptiles. It can also be called drift fencing. Newt fencing consists of a low fence of plastic sheeting, buried a short way into the ground and supported by lightweight posts usually made of wood or plastic. New fencing is used to keep animals out of working areas, to keep them inside safe areas of their habitat, to intercept migration routes, or to control their movement to help their capture for translocation. It may be used in conjunction with pitfall traps placed at the foot of the fence. It is most commonly used in connection with building projects, to minimize harm to protected species.

Construction

The newt fencing usually consists of a plastic membrane partially buried in the ground (usually to about 200 mm. The above ground portion being supported by timber stakes placed at regular intervals along the line of the fence. The newt fencing normally has a below ground horizontal return facing out of the site to minimize the risk of newts re-entering the site through the disturbed soil layer. It usually has some form of overhang along the top edge to reduce the possibility of newts climbing over the fence. In recent years timber-and-plastic newt-proof fencing has become less frequently used due to the fact that materials are sent to landfill post project completion. There are now dedicated systems designed to be reusable and recyclable as well as vandal-resistant and fire-retardant.