150,000 trees planted during rail works

Network Rail says more than 150,000 trees have been planted so far during the building of a new railway line between Oxford and Cambridge.

Work's underway on the second phase, between Bicester, Bletchley and Milton Keynes - and the company says it's pledged to not only restore habitats disrupted during the work, but also create ten per cent more.

To date, 100 hectares of new habitats over 20 different sites have also been created

Species relocated and protected include otters, badgers, bats, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians including great crested newts.

'Smallest ecological impact possible'

Mark Cuzner, East West Rail Alliance project director, said: “We’ve been committed to having the smallest ecological impact possible while building this exciting new railway which will one day link Cambridge and Oxford from East to West.

“As this phase of East West Rail is being built in the main on mothballed railway lines which had become important wildlife corridors, we had to think sensitively and carefully about how we could protect species which had made their home on the former railway lines. That’s why we made a railway first commitment to put back 10% more habitat as part of the project, and it’s really encouraging to see how this is already paying off for biodiversity along the route.”

According to Network Rail:

100% of the 27 artificial badger setts constructed have been occupied by badgers and 22% have already been used for breeding.

A purpose-built bat house is being used by roosting bats

The compensation sites are used by at least seven species of bats for commuting and feeding.

100% of the ponds created for great crested newts show signs they are living there.

One of two artificial otter holts is regularly being used.