Natural England Procures Excavator with Tree Shear for Habitat Restoration

This procurement is for the purchase of a 6-Tonne excavator equipped with a tree shear for use by Natural England. Large areas of the Moors, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), are currently in an unfavourable condition due to extensive scrub encroachment that has developed over several decades.

This scrub growth has reduced the availability of suitable breeding habitat and created barriers to ecological connectivity for rare species, including the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, which is a key feature of the SSSI. At present, scrub management is undertaken by external contractors.

This approach is costly, time-consuming to arrange, and does not provide a sustainable long-term solution for ongoing habitat management. The purchase of a 360-degree excavator with a tree shear will enable the National Nature Reserve (NNR) team to carry out scrub clearance directly.

This will provide a more cost-effective and efficient approach, allowing work to be undertaken sensitively, responsively, and within appropriate ecological windows. Importantly, it will establish a sustainable, long-term capability for scrub management, supporting habitat restoration and the conservation of rare and protected species.