GB2420356A

GB2420356A - Fence for containment of small animals

Info

Publication number: GB2420356A
Application number: GB0523635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Broughton Lloyd
Original assignee: HERPETOSURE Ltd
Current assignee: HERPETOSURE Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-20
Filing date: 2005-11-21
Publication date: 2006-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-21
Also published as: GB2420356B; GB0523635D0; GB0425617D0

Abstract

A fence panel has a first, upright position (Fig 1) and a second, prone position (Fig 2) and comprises a support portion 2 adapted to be inserted into a support structure 10, e.g. the ground, and a barrier portion 3, and biasing means for biasing the panel toward the first position. The fence may be used in confining small animals such as newts to a desired region, e.g. keeping them away from a road, and may be of polypropylene: the biasing means may be the natural resilience of the polypropylene; this allows e.g. vehicles to pass over the fence without damaging it. A containment feature 4 may assist in keeping animals on the containment side 30 of the fence; the other side 6 may have features such as embossing to enable animals to climb that side, and the fence may have the portion 3 angled with respect to portion 2. Also described is a plough device for making a trench in which to install the fence.

Description

A FENCE

This invention relates to a guide fence for the exclusion, containment or control of small animals, and to a fence panel for forming such a guide fence.

At certain times during the year small animals such as amphibians and hedgehogs are know to migrate or move from one habitation to another, for example, during the mating season and before or after hibernating.

These small animals usually follow the same route yearly to a ground to which they are familiar. The path usually involves the small animals having to navigate hazards such as paths or roads.

The crossing of small animals over busy roads can result in distractions to drivers and be hazardous to drivers as they try to avoid them. In most cases the small animals are killed while crossing busy roads.

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As a result the population of these small animals has been steadily decreasing, and environmentalists and conservationists have sought ways to protect these animals during the migration period and to protect resident populations. r 5.55 Solutions to this problem have included the development and provision of tunnels under busy roads as well as fencing to guide the small animals to a safe crossing point along their desired route. In addition, vehicular or other human traffic has been contained within designated areas through the exclusion of these small animals from those areas.

The known fencing is adapted to keep the small animals in a protected area such as a lake or pond away from outside dangers. The known fencing also serves as a means of containment or exclusion where there is a need to catch and clear specific areas or to ensure that an area can not be repopulated, for example, where construction and/or development projects come into conflict with wild animal populations during the course of the animals' natural movements. The fencing may also he used to guide small animals along a safe route.

Guide fences usually come in one of two lorms. The first consists of a SUpport portion buried in the ground into which wall elements arc fixed. The support portion may he made of concrete and in the form of a base slab and is of a width substantially greater than that of the fence panels. A trench is dug into the ground into which the base slabs are buried. The base slabs comprise slots into which the wall elements in the form of panels are introduced. The panels may he made of a ngid polymer or aluminium.

A disadvantage of this type of guide fence is that it prevents the movement of vehicles across the fence, and may be damaged if a vehicle accidentally runs into or over the structure.

A further disadvantage of this type of guide fence is that in order to install the fence at a particular location, it is necessary to initially form a trench into which the guide fence is inserted. The width of the trench must he such that it can accommodate the width of the base slab.

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A second form of guide fence consists of a plurality of holding posts rammed in Se..

the ground with the wall panels mounted between the posts. The wall panels can * he in the form of sheet metal panels or plastic sheeting.

A disadvantage of this type of fence is that it can easily be damaged and lose its structure, for example, if a vehicle runs into or over the structure. The guide fence is also susceptible to vandalism by people jumping over the fence, or removing the holding posts from the ground.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fence panel having a first, upright position, and a second, prone position, and comprising: a Support poiion adapted to be inserted into a support structure; a barrier portion; and biasing means for biasing the panel from the second position towards the first position.

According to a second aspect oi the present invention there is provided a fence s comprising a plurality of fence panels, each panel comprising a first, upright position. and a second, prone position. and comprising: a support portion adapted to he inserted into a support structure, a harrier portion; and biasing means for biasing the fence panel from the second position towards the first position.

By means of the present invention, therefore, the fence pane] according to the first aspect of the present invention can he forced into its second, prone position, for example by a vehicle passing over it. It will however return to, or towards the upright position afier the vehicle has passed over the panel, due to the biasing means fbrrning part of the panel.

When the fence panel is in the prone position, the barrier portion is in contact with, or closer to the support structure than when the panel is in the upright position. In both the upright position, and the prone position, the support portion remains inserted into the support structure and in substantially the same position.

In other words, although the position of the harrier portion is different when the * panel is in the upright position, compared to when it is in the prone position, the position of the support portion remains substantially constant in the two positions. S...

S *. S

This means that fences according to the second aspect of the invention may be erected in order to protect small animals such as newts, without also serving as a barrier to vehicles, such as farm vehicles that may wish to pass over the fences.

Tn addition, the fence of the present invention will suffer little or no damage when vehicles pass over the fence.

The Support portion is adapted to he inserted into a support structure. Typically, the support structure will comprise the ground. The support structure is preferably sized such that, in use it is substantially completely covered by the ground. leaving the barrier structure substantially clear of the ground The biasing means may comprise one or more springs, hut preferably the biasing means comprises an elastic medium from which the fence panel is formed.

Due to the properties of the elastic medium, the fence panel will have an inherent elasticity that will result in the panel being biased from the prone position to the upright position.

The elastic medium may comprise any suitable elastic material, but preferably comprised polypropylene.

The support portion and the barrier portion hay he formed separately to one another, hut preferably they are formed integrally with one another. This simplifies the manufacture an installation processes.

Advantageously, the support portion has a first length and a first thickness, and the bamer portion has a second length and a second thickness, the first and second thicknesses being substantially uniform and of substantially the same magnitude as one another. *SS. S * *S.. *S..

in order to install the fence panel at a particular location, it is necessary to insert *** : the support portion into the support structure. As mentioned hereinabove, the support structure typically comprises the ground. In order to insert the support portion into the ground, it is necessary to imtially create a trench into which the fence panel can be placed. Since the support portion has substantially the same width as the barrier portion, the dimensions of the trench need be sufficient only to accommodate the width of the support portion.

This is in contrast to known fence panels which include a base portion in the form of a slab, where it is necessary to create a larger trench in order to accommodate the width of the slab.

The support portion and the harrier portion may he coplanar with one another. In use, therefore, the harrier portion will extend substantially at right angles from the ground in which the fence panel is inserted. This means that most small animals s will he prevented from climbing over the fence panel due to the fact that the barner portion extends substantially vertically from the ground.

Alternatively, the barrier portion lies in a plane that is inclined to a plane in which the support portion lies.

The plane in which the harrier portion lies may he inclined at any angle to the plane in which the support portion lies. Preferably, however, the plane in which the harrier portion lies is inclined to the plane in which the support portion lies by an angle of greater than 90 and less than 180 . This means that in use, the harrier portion will extend at an angle to the ground in which the fence panel is inserted. *

*S**..

Advantageously, the fence panel has a front side and a back side, and in use is positioned such that small animals can climb over the panel if approaching from ** the front side, but not if approaching from the back side. ** * I *

In embodiments where the ban-ier portion lies in a plane that is inclined to a plane in which the support po1ion lies, the back side of the harrier portion is inclined I....

* S. S towards the support structure in which the fence panel is inserted. This means **5: that, as small animals approach the fence panel from the back side, the angle of the harrier portion means that it is very difficult if not impossible for a small animal to climb over the fence panel from the back side.

Preferably, the fence panel comprises containment means for preventing small animals from climbing over the panel from the back side.

The containment means may comprise a material having a low coefficient of friction, which material forms, or is coated onto, the hack side of the fence panel The nature of the matenal prevents small animals from being able to climb up the hack side of the fence panel due to the "slippery' nature of the back side Advantageously, the containment m cans comprises a containment portion.

Preferably, the containment portion is formed integrally with the SUpport portion and the bamer portion. Conveniently, the barncr portion is positioned between the support portion and the containment portion.

Advantageously, the containment portion lies in a plane that is inclined to a plane in which the barrier portion lies.

In embodiments of the fence panel in which the fence panel has a front side and a back side, the containment portion is adapted to extend from the fence panel in a direction such that the containment portion overhangs the back side of the fence panel. * S

*S*.S.

The containment portion thus provides a barrier to small animals attempting to climb over the fence panel from the back side of the fence panel. However, small animals approaching the fence pane] from the front side will be able to climb over the containment portion due to the orientation of the containment portion. :** *** S Advantageously, the fence panel further comprises a stake associated with the aS..

iénce panel, the stake extending into the support structure. In use, therefore, the.. : stake provides further support to the fence panel and to a fence formed from the fence panel.

In an embodiment of the fence panel comprising a containment portion, the stake is adapted to engage with the containment portion.

Conveniently, the fence panel is fonuied from a matei-ial comprising a fire retardant. This reduces the chances that the fence panel or a fence formed from the fence pane] will ignite when exposed to fire or other heat source.

Conveniently, the fence panel is formed from a material comprising an ultraviolet stahihser. The presence of the ultraviolet stabiliser will increase the life of the fence panel.

Advantageously, the front side of the fence panel is formed from a material having a high coefficient of friction. This assists small animals in climbing over the fence into a protected area.

Advantageously, the fence panel further comprises assisting means for assisting small animals in climbing over the fence panel.

Preferably, the assisting means comprises a material having a high coefficient of friction material, which material forms, or is coated onto the front side of the fence panel.

Advantageously, the assisting means is an embossment. Preferably, the *... S.

embossment has a leather texture effect. S.. * * *

Advantageously, a fence according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality offence panels according to the first aspect of the invention and further comprises connectors for connecting adjacent panels to one another. *SS. *5*S S...

The connectors may be any convenient type of connector but preferably the. . : connectors comprise rivets.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for erecting a fence, the fence comprising a plurality of panels, each panel having a first, upright position, and a second, prone position, and comprising: a support portion adapted to he inserted into a support structure; a ban-icr portion; and biasing means for biasing the panel from the second position towards the first position, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a trench having a depth that is substantially equal to thc first length.

h) inserting a first panel into the trench such that the Support portion is positioned substantially completely within the trench, and the harner portion is s positioned substantially above the trench; c) inserting a second panel into the trench such that the support portion is positioned substantially completely within the trench, and the hamer portion is positioned substantially above the trench; d) )oinlng the first panel to the second panel; e) repeating steps a) to c) until the fence is an appropnate length; 0 closing the trench.

Advantageously, the step of forming the trench comprises driving a "v" backed leg into the support structure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for * S.** * forming a trench, the device having in use, a front end, a rear end, a top end and a bottom end and comprising: a first portion extending from the front end towards or to the rear end and comprising in use, a first side and an opposite second side, each side having a:5: bottom end and a top end and extending from the bottom end of the device S..

towards the top end, *.*... *S..

the device further comprising a trough having spaced apart sides extending.. : from the top end of the first portion to the top end of the device, the sides of the first portion and the sides of the trough diverging from the front end of the device and extending to the rear end of the device.

It is to be understood that the words front, rear, top and bottom used hereinabove refer to the orientation of the device in use.

In order to form a trench, the device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention may be inserted into a support structure such as the ground and pulled in such a wa\ that the front end of thc device makes contact with the support structure, and forces a trench to he created in the support structure Because the sides of the first portion and the trough converge at the front end of the device, the front end of the device fhrms a nose which assist in the process of fonning a trench in the ground.

Advantageously, the device further comprises a sUpport member for attaching the device to a pivoting frame to allow movement of the device on either side of the vertical.

Advantageously, the device may move approximately 300 to either side of the vertical.

Advantageously, the sides of the first portion and the trough comprise working planes.

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Preferably, the trough is substantially V-shaped in cross-section.

The cross-sectional shape of the trough may be such that V is closed, and the sides:5.: of the trough therefore meet to form a closed trough. 5S* .

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Alternatively and preferably, the trough takes the form of a truncated Vshape in. . : cross-section. This means that the sides of the trough do not meet at the apex of the V, and the trough is therefore open at a bottom end thereof. The trough is attached to the first portion of the device at the bottom end, and therefore in this preferred embodiment, a channel is formed between the sides of the first portion and the sides of the trough.

Advantageously, the sides of the trough each comprise an extension portion extending substantially vertically, in use.

The extension portions of the sides of the trough extend beyond the Vshape of the trough and reduce or eliminate the possibility of loose material such as soil from fhllmg into the device when a trench is being formed.

In use, a support portion of the fence panel to be installed in the trough may be inserted into the channel formed between the sides of the first portion and the sides of the trough. In use, therefore, a fence to be erected may he positioned such thai a portion of the fence is held within the channel of the device As the device is pulled through the support structure to form the trough, the fence is pulled along behind the device and thus is positioned as the trough is created.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that since the fence may he positioned within the channel formed between the sides of the first portion and the trough, loose material created during the formation of the trench is prevented from falling into the trench before the fence is positioned within the trench. * *

S.....

Advantageously, the device further comprises an elongate member extending along the bottom end of the device such that the front end of the elongate member extends beyond the front end of the device. *. *

Conveniently, the step of forming the trench comprises the additional step of S..

controlling the depth of the trench. *5qI

S S S 5

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fence panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention in an upright position; Figure 2 is a crosssectional view of the fence panel of Figure 1 in a prone position; Figure 3 i a cross-sectional vic of a second embodiment of a fence panel according to the present in venti on; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fence according to the second aspect of the S invention comprising a plurality offence panels of the type illustrated in Figure 1; Figures 5 & 6 are schematic representations of a first embodiment of a device for forming a trench according to a fourth aspect of the invention, Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device for forming a trench attached to a pivoting frame; Figure 8 is a further representation of the device of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a plan view of the device of Figure 7; * * Figure 10 is a side view of a portion of the device of Figure 7; and * Figure 11 is a cross-sectional representation of the device of Figure 7. * * S

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a fence panel according to the S.', first aspect of the present invention is designated generally by the reference a...

numeral I. The fence panel is inserted into a support structure which in this * embodiment comprises the ground 1 0. The fence panel I comprises a support portion 2 having a first length l, and first width t1, a barrier portion 3 having a second length 12 and second width t2, and a containment portion 4 having a third length 13 and third width t3. The support portion 2 is inserted into the ground 10 and serves to support the fence panel when installed in the ground 1 0.

The Support portion 2, barrier portion 3 and containment portion 4 are integrally formed with one another, and each has substantially same cross sectional width as one another. In other words ti=t2rti. The support portion 2 and the harrier portion 3 are coplanar with one another, and the containment portion 4 lies in a plane which is inclined to the plane in which the harner portion lies. The fence panel conipnscs a front side 6 and an opposite, hack side 8, and the containment portion 4 overhangs the hack side 8. The fence panel has a first upright position in which the bamer portion extends substantially vertically as shown in Figure 1, and a prone position in which the barner portion 3 is in contact with or close to a surface 12 of the ground 1 0, as shown in Figure 2.

The fence panel I may be used to build a fence comprising a plurality of fence panels I. Such a fence may then he used to either guide small animals such as newts to an appropriate breeding ground, for example, or to contain such small animals within a designated area.

In the embodiment of the fence panel shown in Figure 1, due to the fact that the bamer portion extends substantially vertically, it is likely to he very difficult, if not impossible for small animals to climb over the fence. This means that the small animals are contained within a designated area 30 as required. If however, a small animal approaching the fence panel from the back side 8 of the fence panel attempts to climb up the fence panel, the orientation of the containment portion will prevent the small animal from climbing over the fence into a dangerous or

unsuitable area.

The fence panel I has au upright Position as shown in Figure 1, and a prone Sl.

position as shown in Figure 2. In addition, the fence panel is biased towards the first position. This means that in use, if a vehicle such as a tractor drives over a ènce panel 1, the fence panel will move towards the prone position. Once the vehicle as passed over the fence panel, the fence panel will return to the upright posi ti On.

The embodiment Shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed from a polypropylene sheet that has an elastic memory. This means that the fence panel will return to the upright position from the prone position.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2. the support portion is approx.irnaicl\ 300mm long, the barrier portion is approximately 375mm long, and the containment portion is approximately 75mm long.

The thickness of the polypropylene sheet from which the fence panel is formed is approximately 3mm thick.

Referring now to Figure 3, a second embodiment of a fence panel is designated generally by the reference numeral II. Parts of the fence panel 11 which correspond to parts of the fence panel I illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 have been given corresponding reference numerals for ease of reference.

The barrier portion 3 lies in a plane that is inclined to the plane in which the support portion lies. The support section 2 and the barrier section 3 are 300mm is and 400mm in length respectively. The fence panel further comprises a containment portion 4, that is 75mm in length, which is inclined to the plane in which the barrier portion lies. The panel is formed using a 4.5mm thick polypropylene sheet, which further comprises a fire retardant material and ultra violet stabilizer material thereby protecting it from adverse weather conditions.

S * . S ( S.

Due to the fact that the barrier portion is inclined as shown in Figure 3, it is 515* possible for small animals such as newts to climb up the containment portion 4 if S...

approaching the fence panel from the front side 6. This means that it is possible to..

guide small animals into a designated area 30. The front side of the panel further comprises embossrncnts in the panel. The embossments are such that the front side of' the panel has a leather texture effect on its surface, further assisting the grip of small animals climbing over the fence panel. However, small animals approaching the fence panel from back side 8 will find it very difficult if not impossible to climb up the barrier portion due to the inclination of the barrier portion. This means that such small animals will be contained within the designated area 30.

Turnini now to Figure 4. a guiding fence 7 according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 7. The guide fence comprises a plurality of fence panels I of the type shown in more detail in Figures 1 and 2.

The guide fence 7 Is installed by first digging a 50mm wide trench having a depth that is substantially equal to the length of the support portion. The trench is formed by driving a "v" backed leg 50 of the type shown in Figures 5 and 6, into the support structure. The leg' or narrow pointed plough 50, has a front 52 and a rear 54. The plough 50 further corriprises two working face planes 20, a trough 21 and a support member 22. The working face planes each have a top portion 56 and a bottom portion 58 and are approximately 300mm by 300mm. The planes 20 are joined at the front 52 of the plough 50 and diverge at the rear 54 to a width w1 of 55mm at the bottom portion 58, and a width w2 of 75mm at the top portion 56.

The top portion 56 expands out to a wedge shape 60, 210mm wide. The depth of the plough 50 is 850mm. The support member 22 is attached to a pivoting frame (not shown) allowing 30 degrees of movement of the plough either side of vertical. I. *

A first fence panel la is inserted into the trench such that the support portion 2 of: the fence panel is completely within the trench, and the barrier portion 3 is above the trench.

A stake 5 may be inserted into the trench and placed against a side of the panel to provide extra support. The stake engages with the contamment portion 4 to provide further support.

A second funce panel lb is inserted into the trench such that the support portion of the fence panel is completely within the trench and the harrier portion is above the trench. Once again, a stake make be used to give the panel extra support. The first and second panels are secured together using connectors 9 to form a wall. The panels may be secured by slightly overlapping adjacent panels and joining them together using an expanding grommet. a rivet or a nut and bolt configuration. This process is repeated until the fence is an appropriate length.

It is to be understood howe\'er. that the stakes 5 do not form an essential part of s the invention, and the guide fence may be installed without any stakes.

Once the fence is of the required length, the trench is closed. The fence may he closed by a desirable method, hut preferably is closed by forcing soil hack into the trench by, for example, driving a tractor close to the edge of the trench already formed.

A second embodiment of a device for forming a trench will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figures 7 to 11.

Refemng to Figures 7 to II, the second embodiment of the device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 00. The device comprises a front end 110, a rear end 120, a top end 130 and a bottom end 140. The device further comprises a first portion 150 extending from the front end 130 to the rear end 120. The first portion 150 comprises a first side 1 60 and an opposite second side 1 70. The first portion 150 has a bottom end and a top end 190. The first portion 150 extends from the bottom end 140 of S...

the device 1 00 towards the top end 120. ** The device further comprises a trough 200 having spaced apart sides 2 10, 220 extending from the top end 1 90 of the first portion. The sides 1 60, 1 70 of the first portion and the sides 21 0, 220 of' the trough diverge from the front end 11 0 of the device. In other words the sides 210, 220 and 160, 170 meet at the front end of the device to ibm a nose.

The trough 200 is substantially V-shaped in cross-section. In the embodiment described herein with reference to Figures 7 to 11, the sides of the trough 21 0, 220 fbrm a truncated V in which the sides 2 10, 220 do not meet with one another at the apex of the V. Instead a channel 230 is formed between the sides 1 60. 1 70 of the first portion and the sides 21 0. 220 of the trough.

The trough further comprises extended sides 240, 250 which extend from the sides 2] 0, 220. These extended sides 240, 250 reduce the amount of loose material such as loose soil, falling into the device when the device is used to funn a trench in support structures such as the ground.

The device further comprises an elongate member 260 providing furtherstability to the device.

The device 100 may he attached to a pivoting frame 300 (as shown in Figure 7) by means of a support member 3 10. The pivoting member may he attached to, for example a tractor and used to pull the device through the support structure such as the ground in order to create a trench in which a fence according to the present *ISS..

invention may be positioned and installed. *S. * * S S.

Due to the presence of channel 230, the fence to he installed in a trench created by the device 100 may he positioned within the channel 230 and attached to the device in any convenient manner. As the device 1 00 is pulled through a support structure such as the ground, the fence to be installed with he pulled along behind the device. This means that the amount of loose material, such as soil falling into *: the trench is significantly reduced or eliminated completely due to the presence of the fence in the channel.

The pivoting frame 300 allows the device 1 00 to move about the vertical.

Claims

1. A fence panel having a first, upnght position, and a second, prone position, and comprising: a support portion adapted to he inserted into a support structure; a barner portion biasing means for biasing the panel from the second position towards the first position.

2. A fence pane] according to Claim I wherein the biasing means comprises an elastic medium from which the fence panel is formed.

3. A fence panel according to Claim 2 wherein the elastic medium comprises polypropylene.

4. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support portion and the barrier portion are integrally formed.

5. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support portion has a first length and a first thickness, and the barrier portion has a second length and a second thickness, the first and second thicknesses being substantially uniform and of substantially the same magnitude as one another.

6. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support portion and the halTier portion are coplanar with one another.

7. A fence panel according to any one of Claims I to 5 wherein the barrier portion lies in a plane that is inclined to a plane in which the support portion lies.

8. A fence panel according to Claim 7 further comprising assisting means for assisting small animals in climbing over the fCnce panel.

9. A fence panel according to Claim 8 wherein the assisting means compnses a material having a high coefficient of friction material, which material loniis. or is coated onto the front side of the fence panel.

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1 0. A fence panel according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein the assisting means is an embossment.

11 A fence panel according to Claim 1 0 wherein the embossment has a leather texture effect. IC)

12. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising containment means.

13. A fence panel according to Claim 12 wherein the containment means comprise a material having a low coefficient of friction material, which material forms, or is coated onto the back side of the fence panel.

14 A fence panel according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the containment means comprises a containment portion. * * *.e.

15. A fence panel according to Claim 14 wherein the containment portion is formed integrally with the support portion and the bamer portion. * :::

1 6. A fence panel according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein the containment portIon lies in a plane that is inclined to a plane in which the harrier portion lies.

17. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a stake associated with the fence panel, the stake extending into the support structure.

1 8. A fence panel according to Claim 1 7 when dependent on Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein the stake engages with the containment portion.

1 9 A fence panel according to any OflC of the preceding claims wherein the fence panel is fc)rmed from a material comprising a fire retardant.

20. A fence panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the S fence panel is formed from a material comprising an ultra violet stabilizer.

21. A fence comprising a plurality of panels according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising connectors for connecting adjacent panels to one another.

22 A fence according to Claim 21 wherein the connectors comprise rivets.

*

23 A method for erecting a fence, the fence comprising a plurality of fence panels, according to any one of Claims I to 20, the method comprising the steps iS of: a) forming a trench having a depth that is substantially equal to the first length; b) inserting a first panel into the trench such that the support portion is:..: positioned substantially completely within the trench, and the barrier portion is positioned substantially above the trench; c) inserting a second panel into the trench such that the support portion is positioned substantially completely within the trench, and the barrier portion is positioned substantially above the trench; d)joining the first panel to the second panel; e) repeating steps a) to c) until the fence is an appropriate length; closing the trench.

24. A method according to Claim 23 wherein the step of forming the trench comprises driving a "v" hacked leg in to the support structure.

25. A method according to Claim 23 or Claim 24 wherein the step of forming the trench comprises the additional step of controlling the depth of the trench.

26 A device for forming a trench, the device having in use. a front end. a rear end. a lop end and a bottom end and comprising: a first portion extending from the front end towards or to the rear end and eomprismg in use. a first side and an opposite second side. each side having a bottom end and a top end and extending from the bottom end of the device towards the top end, the device further comprising a trough having spaced apart sides extendmg from the top end of the first portion to the top end of the device, the sides of the first portion and the sides of the trough diverging from the front end of the device and extending to the rear end of the device.

27. A device according to Claim 26 further comprising a support member for attaching the device to a pivoting frame.

28. A device according to Claim 26 or Claim 27 wherein the sides of the first: portion of the trough comprising working planes.

29. The device according to any one of Claims 26 to 28 wherein the trough is substantially V-shaped in cross-section. S...

30. A device according to any one of Claims 26 to 29 further comprising an * * : elongate member extcndmg along the bottom end of the device such that the front end of the elongate member extends beyond the front end of the device.

3 1. A fence panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. A fence substantially as herein hefhre described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A device for forming a trench subsianh ally as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * *

****** * S.. S S. S. S

SS S * S. 5... * S S... 5.. * S S 5