It is also home to protected mammals and reptiles. The project would not have received planning permission without substantial environmental mitigation measures. The quality of our mitigation plans secured support from Natural England at public inquiry.
Site preparation was staggered so fauna could migrate to neighbouring woodland and crossing routes for animals, such as dormice and badgers were installed. Extensive landscaping included replanting of local woodland, a green footbridge and vegetated slope finishes. The old A3 was removed and the area restored to heathland, reuniting the Devil's Punch Bowl with Hindhead Common for the first time in almost 200 years.
An environmental monitoring regime has verified the effectiveness of the project’s mitigation measures, which have ensured the long-term wellbeing of the flora and fauna that inhabit this exceptional natural environment.