The present invention relates to a gabion comprising at least one individual compartment for receiving, a fill material, the each individual compartment of the gabion being bounded by at least one wall, the wall material forming at least one closed panel around the each individual compartment effective for retaining the fill material, the wall material having sufficient flexibility to allow the gabion to be folded and/or rolled in a first pre-deployment configuration, wherein the pre-deployed gabion is restrained in its first configuration by a form of restraining means, the wall material having sufficient resilience such that when the gabion is released from its restraining means, it tends to unfold and/or unroll from its first configuration towards or to a second deployment configuration.