The problems we're asked to solve
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Illegal vehicles and hare coursing
Off-road bikes and 4x4s churning up tracks and wet grassland, and coursers using field entrances at night.
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Fly-tipping
Open gateways on quiet lanes are an easy target, and clearing waste eats into reserve budgets.
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Out-of-hours car parks
Anti-social behaviour, overnight parking and camping once staff have gone home. A timed gate closes it at dusk.
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Gates left open
Visitors and contractors leaving gates open and letting conservation grazing stock out. Automated gates close behind every vehicle.
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Theft from compounds
Tools, fuel, quad bikes and machinery taken from workshops and reserve yards.
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Too many keys
Wardens, volunteers, graziers and contractors all holding keys or codes, and nobody sure who still has one.
What we supply and install
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EstateGuard gates
A traditional five-bar look from the track, galvanised steel and proper automation behind it. Sliding or swing.
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Off-grid solar power
455W panel and battery storage in a galvanised PowerBox, sized for UK winters. No cable trench across protected ground.
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GSM access control
Staff, volunteers, graziers and contractors open the gate by phone. Add and remove people remotely, with a log of who came through.
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Compound fencing
Twin wire mesh and V-mesh with matching gates for workshops, fuel stores and machinery yards.
Protected sites
Designed around wildlife and the rules that protect it
- Designations: drawings and method statements for SSSI, heritage and conservation area consents.
- Rights of way: pedestrian or bridle gates alongside vehicle gates, and Section 147 authorisations flagged.
- Wildlife movement: gaps or badger gates where fence lines cross established runs.
- Timing: groundworks scheduled around breeding seasons your ecologist identifies.
Guides for reserves and trusts
All conservation guidesFrequently asked questions
Will we need planning permission?
Will we need planning permission?
Often not for a gate of normal height, but designations change that. Listed status, conservation areas, SSSIs and Article 4 directions can all bring extra requirements. Check with your local planning authority and, for SSSIs, Natural England. We supply drawings to support any application.
Can volunteers open the gate with their phone?
Can volunteers open the gate with their phone?
Yes. Each authorised person calls the gate or uses an app. You can add and remove numbers remotely and limit access to set dates and times.
Can solar run CCTV as well?
Can solar run CCTV as well?
A well-sized solar system runs a gate and access control all year. Continuous CCTV or lighting is a different matter: in December a panel can't deliver that reliably. We'll tell you plainly what's realistic and what needs a separate power solution.
What happens if the battery runs low?
What happens if the battery runs low?
We size each system for the expected openings and the site's winter sunlight, and Bluetooth monitoring shows battery status on your phone. Every gate can also be released manually.
Will the gate stand up to cattle and ponies?
Will the gate stand up to cattle and ponies?
EstateGuard gates are hot-dip galvanised steel built for working farms. Sliding gates have no track for hooves to damage.
Can your quote support a grant or committee approval?
Can your quote support a grant or committee approval?
Yes. Our quotes are itemised and explain the reasoning behind the specification, so they can go straight to a budget holder, committee or funder.
Do you work outside the East of England?
Do you work outside the East of England?
Yes. We're based in Essex with a sales office in the Cotswolds, install across the UK, and supply trade installers nationwide.