Network Rail Offers Assurances Over ‘Threat to Nesting Birds’

Published on: 3 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 4 Apr, 2025

By David Reading

Network Rail have assured residents that work being undertaken this spring to manage vegetation on the line between Ash Vale and Camberley has been planned with a full consideration for wildlife.

Concerns were expressed on social media about the work, with one post saying: “This is the worst possible time to do these works as it’s right through the bird nesting season and they should not start until the summer once the birds have fledged etc.”

The post concluded with an appeal to people to lodge objections with the rail company.

When contacted by The Guildford Dragon, a spokesperson for Network Rail said the work was important for railway safety, and the matter of wildlife was not neglected.

“We work very closely with our own ecologists to manage vegetation on the railway between Camberley and Ash Vale,” the spokesperson said. “This work is vital. Overgrown trees can make it difficult for drivers to see signals clearly, blow onto the line during storms, or cause a slippery build-up of leaves on the tracks in the autumn.

“As part of our commitment to biodiversity, we have also consulted The Tree Council directly. Logs and branches will either be left on site to create a safe habitat for wildlife, chipped and spread evenly across the site, or completely removed. In safe locations, standing dead timber will be retained, or created from trees that require removal to provide valuable habitats.

“We’re sorry that this has upset some of our lineside neighbours, but we need to do it so that we can continue to safely run the railway.”

In a letter to residents living in the area, Network Rail said preliminary appraisals had taken place to flag up any issues pertaining to the ecology of the area. The letter said the work team would undertake daily nesting surveys and ensure that active birds’ nests would be left undisturbed.

Asked for a comment, a spokesperson for Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) agreed it was essential to let outdoor spaces stay wild where possible but felt the Network Rail statement was “a very reasonable response”, showing they had taken the area’s ecology into account.

SWT took the opportunity to stress how residents could support wildlife in their gardens.

Communications Manager Oliver Fry said “While some sensitively-managed infrastructural work will inevitably have to take place at all times of the year, homeowners can do their bit for wildlife by going easy on any spring gardening projects that might disturb nesting birds. Please leave the hedge trimmers and strimmers in the garage for now!”