Chilbolton rabbits in the news

Aparantly our Chilbolton rabbits have caught some interest in the press: this Daily Telegraph article "Rabbits Disrupt Project to Map the Universe" appeared today discussing the (completed expected) impact they have on the LOFAR LBAs and the plans put in place to limit the impact on the array (our very own rabbit proof fence).

LOFAR-UK Public Enemy Number 1

Because it was "formally" requested, we have been sent a photograph of an observatory rabbit.



This elusive creature was photographed in the early morning near its burrow in the main observatory compound. Although cute and fluffy, these animals will chew through any and everything, making no distinction between twigs and LOFAR LBA guy wires as is completely nautral for rbbits. In fact, the very first test LBA, which was located in the 4.5m dish compound, was repeatedly attacked. When the guy wire is bitten through, the antenna will quickly fall over in the breeze or simply under the tension of the elastic on the opposite side. The rabbits make no distinction between elastic and nylon and will chew through whatever than can get their teeth into.

It is said that every international LOFAR site has its own special wildlife pest... at Chilbolton it's the rabbits.

We love our Chilbolton rabbits, we just don't want them to destroy the antennas - hence the fence we previously talked about.

Fencing progress

While preparation work for the HBA installation increases pace, the sub-contractors continue to put in the perimeter fence. This is now starting to take shape and much of the field edge has now reached the stage shown in this photograph.

More trenches!

Just when we thought we'd seen the last of the trenches, more are starting to appear! However, these trenches are not for cables. Instead, this is part of the fence that will surround the two LOFAR fields. Because of the requirements, these fences cannot contain large lengths of metal; so the common wire fencing is not an option. Instead, they are constructed of timber and synthetic netting. The netting itself is buried into the ground to attempt to control the rabbits (evidence of whom has already been spotted on the LBA field).

Yet another trench!


Timber fence posts are dropped in along the trench ready for securing.