Highways Bulletin: Shackleford Badger Tunnel Reinstated

Published on: 14 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2025

The information for this bulletin comes from Surrey County Council and is written by them.

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Badgers activity being monitored with a night camera.

Safer Roads and Protected Wildlife in Shackleford

In early 2025, our Highways and Ecology teams worked together to tackle an unusual issue in Shackleford village. A well-used cut-through between the A31 and A3 had begun to sink, and investigations revealed the cause: a collapsed badger tunnel beneath the road. A nearby sett entrance confirmed that badgers were active in the area.

Specialist ecologists carried out surveys and used trail cameras in February and June to understand how the animals were using the space. The footage showed that both the main badger sett, located around 200 metres away, and the smaller subsidiary sett near the road were still busy with regular badger activity.

To carry out essential repairs safely, the team worked under a Natural England licence to temporarily close the affected sett. One-way gates and protective meshing ensured the badgers were not harmed and continued to use their main sett throughout the works.

Engineers then reinstated the collapsed tunnel by installing a strong, purpose-built badger passage beneath the road. This new pipe, over 12 inches in diameter, allows badgers to move safely under the highway while also preventing future subsidence. Additional strengthening with concrete blocks means the road is now far more resilient.

Before leaving site, the team restored the entrance so it blends naturally into the landscape, and the sett has now been fully reopened. Trail cameras will continue to monitor activity over the coming weeks and again in spring to ensure the badgers have happily moved back in.

For details of roadworks in the Guildford area please click here.